If Anthony Albanese, current prime minister, is in support of and vowed to install the Indigenous Voice advisory board, why can’t he just do it? He also made a comment beforehand that he would respect people’s decision if they vote no, implying that he might be able to override it if he wanted to.
"the PM on Sunday said Labor would “respect the response of Australians next Saturday”.
“If Australians vote no, I don’t believe that it would be appropriate to then go and say, ‘Oh, well, you’ve had your say, but we’re going to legislate anyway’.”
I personally believe that what white Australians want is irrelevant to the fundamental rights that the original owners of this land deserve, and he should have just done it if he was able to.
Well, that’s democracy.
Regardless of your thoughts on this individual matter, I’m glad the results are upheld despite what I think should happen.
The real issue is why the Australian people voted the way they did. Disappointing for many.
But the Australian people already voted in Anthony Albanese, so whatever he does as the democratically elected leader is basically democratic isn’t it? Why would we need a separate vote for each decision when he could just make those decisions as the elected head of parliament?
(Also I would add that when people chose Anthony Albanese as PM, they would have known he intended to strengthen indigenous representation and rights, so a Yes vote for Anthony was already a yes vote for Indigenous Voice, in my view).
amending the constitution of Australia requires a referendum in which the proposed amendment must be approved by a “double majority”: a majority of voters nationwide and a majority of voters in a majority of states.
Fair enough, but then why did Albanese suggest he had the ability to override the vote but was opting not to?
Australians do not vote for a Prime Minister, we vote for a political party which nominates its Prime Minister in the event of an election victory.
By convention parties nominate the PM before and promote them during the campaign. PMs can however be chucked out by their own party without a vote by the public, as happened with Kevin Rudd.
PMs do not simply have a carte blanche “mandate” to implement their election promises and must follow all parliamentary process.
we vote for a political party
We vote for a local representative, who may or may not be a member of a political party.
