Indo-Pacific Analysis Brief Vol 40
An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament
September 2023
Paul Holland
In our latest Indo-Pacific Analysis Brief, Perth USAsia Centre Indo-Pacific Fellow (Indigenous Foreign Policy), Paul Holland, explores the level of international interest in the referendum and how the result of the vote might be interpreted by the region.
Key Messages
↗ On 14 October 2023, Australia will vote in a referendum to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament in the Constitution
↗ While the domestic debate on the potential impacts of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice has been covered extensively, there has been little debate on why it matters to Australia’s Indo-Pacific relationships
↗ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are Australia’s first diplomats and a ‘Yes’ vote will support the Australian Foreign Minister’s agenda to develop a First Nations Foreign Policy, while a ‘No’ vote could undermine Australia’s international legitimacy and soft diplomacy at a critical time for Australia’s Indo-Pacific relationships.
