The Law Council of Australia welcomes the passage through the Senate today of the Constitutional Alteration to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament and the Executive.
"With the passage of the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 (Cth), there is now certainty that a referendum on the amendment to the Australian Constitution to provide for the Voice will be held later this year. The Law Council looks forward to date for the referendum being set," Law Council of Australia President Luke Murphy said.
"The Law Council has long supported a constitutionally enshrined Voice as a necessary and overdue recognition of First Nations peoples in the Australian Constitution. The Law Council was pleased to make a submission and give evidence to the Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum inquiry into the Constitution Alteration.
"As it submitted to that inquiry, the Law Council considers the Constitutional amendment proposed in the Constitution Alteration responds to the invitation to Australian public for constitutional reform which is eloquently expressed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The Law Council considers the amendment is constitutionally orthodox, just and legally sound," said Mr Murphy.
The Law Council will shortly publicly release guidance material on the referendum process and the proposed amendment, which also explains its position of support for the referendum. It will also distribute this material to its Constituent Bodies, Sections and Advisory Committees.
"I sincerely hope the Law Council's guidance material will benefit both the legal profession, and the Australian people, by ensuring access to accurate and informed material ahead of the referendum so that all Australians can make a fully informed decision when voting," Mr Murphy said.
