Responding to the Australian public’s overwhelming decision not to recognize Indigenous people in their constitution, prominent First Nations journalist Stan Grant stated: ‘Whatever hope there may be for a different Australia, I likely won’t live to see it.’ On 14 October, around 60 per cent of voters rejected proposals to create an elected, non-binding, governmental advisory body known as ‘the Voice’ in a one-off referendum.
The vote was preceded by a divisive campaign. Proponents argued that the Yes vote symbolised a new, more just and united Australia. Meanwhile, the No camp maintained that the Voice created special classes of ‘more equal’ citizens, while appealing to undecided voters with the slogan: ‘Don’t know? Vote no.’
