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Indigenous Voice
About the author
Ryan Neelam
Ryan Neelam was Director of the Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Program at the Lowy Institute. He led the flagship annual Lowy Institute Poll, was project director for the Global Diplomacy Index, and wrote about climate diplomacy and multilateral policy.
In late 2023, Australians will vote in a referendum on whether to alter the Australian Constitution to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. The Voice would be an independent body that would give advice to the Australian parliament and government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In this year’s Poll, we asked if introducing the proposed Voice would have an impact on Australia’s international reputation. Australians are almost evenly divided, with 47% saying that a Voice would improve Australia’s reputation, while 44% say it would make no difference. Very few (8%) believe it would damage Australia’s reputation.
After polling concluded, Opposition leader Peter Dutton formally announced he would oppose the government’s proposal to establish a Voice. There is a stark divide in opinion along political party lines on the Voice’s potential impact on Australia’s reputation. 62% of those who lean towards the Labor Party think the Voice would improve Australia’s international reputation. Of those who lean towards the Liberal or National parties, only 25% say the Voice would improve Australia’s reputation, while 61% say it would make no difference.
