Remote Australians to cast first votes in referendum

Poppy Johnston | September 25, 2023

Australians living in remote communities are set to begin casting their votes in the Indigenous voice referendum at mobile voting stations.

Helicopters, four-wheel drives and even boats are being used to reach remote corners of the country.

The Australian Electoral Commission’s efforts will give all Australians the chance to participate in the first referendum to change the constitution since the country vetoed the republic in 1999.

Voters will be asked to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first Australians by enshrining an advisory body known as the voice.

Given the logistically challenging task of accessing remote communities, voting in these areas has opened 19 days ahead of the October 14 referendum date.

Early voting at other locations will start on October 2.

More than 17.67 million people have enrolled to vote, ensuring 97.7 per cent of eligible Australians will have their say.

A successful referendum needs a majority of states to vote ‘yes’ as well as the majority of Australians.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised a joint parliamentary committee will be set up to oversee the creation of the voice advisory group if Australians vote ‘yes’ in the referendum.

The committee would have co-chairs from Labor and the coalition to ensure there is broad support for the legislation, Mr Albanese said.

“It will be important and that way, you won’t have chopping and changing,” he told reporters on Sunday.

“This is a constructive proposal to go forward because if Australians vote ‘yes’ on October 14, I believe firmly it will be a moment of national unity.”

The ‘no’ campaign maintains the voice would only keep Australia divided rather than improve the lives of Indigenous people.

“The feeling on the ground is that this is about those in the cities who are trying to impose their thinking onto regional and remote Australia,” Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price told Sky News.