What can be learned about Australian values in comparing referendums on Indigenous inclusion and recognition?

The referendum to establish a Voice to Parliament for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples failed to receive popular support from the Australian public. Questions as to why the referendum was unsuccessful have been put forward following the outcome. As we analyse the defeat, it is useful to look back at the two other referendums in Australia’s history that addressed inclusion and recognition of our First Peoples, 1967 and 1999, and compare factors which lead to their respective outcomes. Drawing on qualitative sources, this paper posits an argument which connects received national values to Australia’s unwillingness to go beyond inclusion and recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have inherent rights to be involved in decisions that affect them. Australian ‘egalitarianism’ presents a barrier to greater Indigenous recognition, and referenda regarding Indigenous rights are impacted by discourses of ‘equality’.

Australian Journal of Political Science

Australian Journal of Political Science

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1363-030X

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