Australia’s parliament will convene on Monday for the first time after the failure of a referendum on Indigenous recognition. The outcome of the referendum could weaken Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s authority. Over 60% of Australians voted “No” in the landmark referendum held on Saturday. The referendum sought to amend the constitution to acknowledge the country’s Indigenous peoples and establish an advisory body that would advise parliament on issues concerning the community.
Prime Minister Albanese had invested a significant amount of political capital in campaigning for a “Yes” vote, while the opposition Liberal party opposed the proposal. Albanese will face the leader of the Liberal party, Peter Dutton, during the parliamentary question time scheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday (0300 GMT).
The outcome of the referendum represents a major setback for reconciliation efforts with the Indigenous community in Australia. It also tarnishes the country’s global image regarding its treatment of Indigenous peoples. The Sydney Morning Herald described the damage caused by Saturday’s vote as “extreme” in an editorial published on Monday.
The Australian Financial Review, the country’s leading business newspaper, labeled the result as “heartbreaking” for Australia’s Indigenous community. Indigenous peoples constitute approximately 3.8% of the total population and have endured neglect and discrimination for centuries since the British colonization in 1788.
Reporting from Sydney, Alasdair Pal; Editing by Stephen Coates.
