Australia is gearing up for a referendum on October 14th to decide whether to constitutionally recognize its Indigenous people. Proponents argue that a successful outcome would align the country with nations that already have legal protections for Indigenous rights. Currently, Australia lacks a treaty with its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, constituting 3.2% of the 26 million inhabitants. They were historically marginalized and omitted from the 122-year-old constitution, resulting in lower socio-economic indicators compared to national averages.
The referendum will seek public opinion on establishing an Indigenous committee to advise the federal parliament. Advocates believe this would lead to positive advancements for the Aboriginal community, while opponents view it as potentially divisive. Some critics have labeled it as symbolic and lacking real impact.
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