The Referendum question

On referendum day, voters will be asked to vote 'yes' or 'no' on a single, simple question. The question on the ballot paper will be:
“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

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Do you approve this proposed alteration?”
This question is designed to allow voters to clearly convey their choice with a simple YES or a NO.

The Constitutional amendment

Notably, thought, the simple question does not itself provide the voter with substantive information about what it, and is not being proposed. Some greater detail is provided in the terms of the proposed alteration referred to in the above question

The proposed law that Australians are being asked to approve at the referendum would insert the following lines into the Constitution
“Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples


129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice


In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
  1. there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
  2. the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
  3. the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”
Even this wording - while thick with significance and detail to constitutional lawyers - will mean very little to most Australians. That is why it is so important that the public take time to educate themselves ahead of referendum day. The pages of this site are designed as a one-stop-shop to help the public understand just want these technical terms mean.

We recommend people concerned about the legal significance of the terms used in the proposed amendment familiarise themselves with the following pages:

FUrther Resources

More information about the Parliamentary processes that have led to the referendum (including the Constitution Alteration Bill and the Advisory Report on the Constitution Alteration) are available here:
Information about the referendum, and how referendums work, is available on the official government Voice website: