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New research reconfirms First Nations Peoples’ support for a First Nations Voice, with 83 per cent in favour of a Voice enshrined in the Australian Constitution.
The poll conducted in April by YouGov, a member of the Australian Polling Council, shows 83 per cent would vote YES if the referendum was held today. Eleven per cent no, and four per cent remain undecided.
The polling is the most statistically significant and sophisticated of its type, having surveyed 732 First Nations Peoples in 151 electorates around Australia including in metropolitan, regional and more remote areas. This is the largest publicly released representative data type of surveyed First Nations Australians to date.
Professor Megan Davis, Balnaves Chair in Constitutional Law at UNSW and Co-Chair of the Uluru Dialogue said First Peoples understand the impact Voice could have to improve lives and provide better outcomes for our people.
“First Nations Peoples want a say in the laws and policies that impact our lives every day,” Professor Davis said.
“They can see the potential of the Voice to deliver better decision making in Canberra which will improve outcomes on the ground around the country in areas like health, education and housing.”
“The proposal for the Voice was first asked for by First Nations Peoples at the grassroots nationwide Regional Dialogues and it continues to be supported in large numbers to this day.”
Professor Davis said many Australians expressed a desire to discuss the Voice directly with First Peoples.
“Not all Australians know an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person so are turning to those they see in the media for guidance.”
“I would ask them to listen to a range of views before making up their mind as many First Peoples with national platforms are not representing the views of the overwhelming majority of Aboriginal People.
“The Uluru Dialogue is running information sessions called Start a Yarn which provide factual information about how the Voice proposal came about. The Yarns also provide an opportunity to answer questions from the comfort of people’s own living rooms.”
“I’d encourage anyone who is unsure about the Voice or who have questions to register for a session to get informed about what they will be voting for come referendum day.”
This polling conducted by YouGov echoes various polling of First Nations Peoples, most recently an IPSOS poll in January 2023 which confirmed 80 per cent support. The YouGov methodology of surveying the Australian public is extremely robust and consistent with the highest standard of polling data.
For more information on the Uluṟu Statement from the Heart visit https://ulurustatement.org/
The Uluṟu Statement from the Heart
Created in 2017, the Uluṟu Dialogue is the collective of First Nations leaders including many of the architects and authors of the Uluṟu Statement from the Heart who lead community education on the Uluṟu Statement’s reforms of Voice, Makarrata. They are the custodians of the Uluṟu Statement from the Heart. The Uluṟu Dialogue is based at the Indigenous Law Centre, UNSW Sydney
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