Overview

This book looks at deep-seated elements of racism in Indigenous-settler relations through detailed analyses of the October 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum in Australia and its outcome—and discusses what might come next.

The Voice to Parliament Referendum

The Voice to Parliament referendum proposed a constitutional amendment to create an Indigenous advisory body in the Australian Parliament. The referendum met with a resounding defeat.

Analysis of Survey Results

Against this background, the book analyses survey results during the referendum that asked direct questions about attitudes towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as about policies and issues important to many Indigenous peoples. It situates Australia’s experience in this election with other research on attitudes towards Indigenous peoples, rights, and policy issues.

Racism and Social Science

The book also interrogates another major survey in the lead-up to the referendum, questioning those findings in relation to racism. It looks at possible learnings for the social sciences about Indigenous politics and examines the ways in which Australian settler nationalism created obstacles to the referendum’s success and considers the limits of deliberation for Indigenous political claims.