The Voice to Parliament referendum was a vote held in Australia on October 14, 2023, to establish a representative body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution. The Voice would be an independent advisory body that would make representations to MPs and policymakers on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The members of the Voice would be made up of and chosen by First Nations people from communities around Australia. The referendum did not pass, with a majority of voters both nationwide and in all states voting against it.
The Voice to Parliament proposal was based on a lengthy and widespread consultation process about the best way to achieve constitutional recognition of Indigenous people in Australia. Advocates say the Voice needs to be enshrined in the constitution rather than legislated, which would give it permanency and insulate it from partisan politics. However, opponents argue that the Voice is legally risky, divisive, and far too broad in its scope. The actual structure of the Voice would depend on legislation after a "yes vote" in the referendum.
For a referendum to be successful, it requires a majority of voters across the nation and a majority of voters in a majority of states, known as a double majority. The Voice referendum was the first referendum of the 21st century in Australia.