The world is watching Australia and the Voice referendum this weekend, Linda Burney says

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney says the Voice debate and referendum is about love, generosity and understanding of our nation’s history.

In less than a week, Australia will decide on whether to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament into the constitution – which Linda Burney says will reveal a lot about who we are as a nation.

“I think that it will mean the rest of the world will see Australia as mature enough to recognise first peoples,” she told the Advertiser on Monday.

The Minister for Indigenous Australians has been a key advocate for the Voice and the Uluru Statement from the Heart since its inception in May 2017.

However, she said the idea of a Voice to Parliament has been decades in the making and it has been a long fight taken up by many strong figures in Australia’s Indigenous community.

“It’s been as far back as the 1930s when people have been advocating for a say in what affects us,” she said.

“I think back to the 1938 Day of Mourning in Sydney.

“People like William Cooper, people like Lowitja O’Donoghue, people like Charles Perkins, Eddie Mabo, Vincent Lingiari, Mr Yunupingu and thousands of others who have kept the flame of our identity and justice for our people burning.”

Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Linda Burney speaking at the Yes23 campaign in Clearview, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. Picture: Matt Loxton

On October 14, a national referendum will be held in Australia with people voting either Yes or No to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the constitution.

A Voice would be an advisory-only body that may make representations to the parliament or the executive government on issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The question posed to Australians on October 14 will be;

“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

The Voice will not have veto powers and the government can choose not to take its advice.

Ms Burney says there has been a lot of misinformation around the Voice creating division from the No camp and that most people will remain unaffected by the verdict.

“How can having Aboriginal people involved in decisions that affect us be divisive,” she said.

“This is about taking the high road, this is about generosity, this is about love, this is about understanding, and there is no room for misrepresentation and division,” she said.

“There has certainly been some unpleasantness but my message to people, particularly our people, is to be proud, stand strong and understand that we keep our eye on the ball and the thing with this referendum, is it’s about improving things for future generations.”

Polling locations will be open across South Australia from 6am to 8pm on Saturday, however those that meet the early voter criteria will be able to attend early voting centres prior to the day.