The Voice referendum was a vote held in Australia on October 14, 2023, to decide whether to enshrine in the nations constitution a mechanism for Indigenous people to advise Parliament on minority issues. The proposal called for establishing "an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice" that would advise Parliament and the government on Indigenous matters. If the "yes" vote had won, the constitution would have been rewritten to say the Voice "may make representations" to Parliament and government "on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples." Parliament would "have power to make laws with respect to the composition, functions, powers, and procedures" of the Voice. However, Australians voted against the proposal, with a majority expected to vote no to Indigenous Voice in government. The public debate was marred by misinformation, racism, and a lack of detail on how "the Voice" would operate. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander politicians and community leaders were also divided in their support, and Liberal opposition party leader Peter Dutton was staunchly opposed to the proposal.