Frequently Asked Questions

Later this year, Australians will vote on a straightforward proposition developed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over many years.

We will be asked to recognise that our country’s history begins with 65,000 years of continuous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural connection to this great land and support the creation of a committee ensuring Indigenous voices have a say when the Government is making decisions about policies that affect their communities.

The Voice is a long-standing and well-understood proposal. Six years ago, over 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates from Indigenous communities across Australia came together to draft the historic Uluru Statement from the Heart.

This statement was an invitation to all Australians to help create a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - an invitation many Australians have accepted with an open heart.

One of the critical steps identified was the need for a Voice, a committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives who share advice on matters affecting their communities based on local Indigenous knowledge.

The purpose of this committee is to give information to the Government of the day to help them make a practical difference in things like jobs, education, housing, and health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

It is what Indigenous communities have asked for - more than 80% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples support recognition in the Constitution through a Voice.

A Yes vote will see the Constitution include recognition of Indigenous Australians and allow a Voice to be legislated.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart outlines the path forward for recognising Indigenous Australians in the nation's constitution.

It was endorsed with a standing ovation by a gathering of 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders on May 26, 2017, following a four-day First Nations National Constitutional Convention held at Uluru. The consultation process that led to the statement was unprecedented in Australian history for its scale. Over a six month period, it engaged more than 1200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives in a dozen regional dialogues across the country.

Read the full statement here, and head to their website to learn more, accept the invitation, and download the Supporter’s Kit.

Yes. The idea for the Voice came directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through broad consultation over many decades. More than 80% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people support recognition in the Constitution through a Voice.

There are some Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people who do not support the Voice, or would like to see other actions first, and that is okay. Like all Australians, they hold a variety of different opinions on these important topics.

You can read the stories of some of the supporters here on our website.