14/10/2026
A fair and just future for First Peoples is one where their voices are heard, their rights are upheld, and governments work in genuine partnership with them.
That future did not begin with the Voice referendum, and it did not end with its outcome.
Three years ago today, Australians voted in the referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. For many First Peoples, the result was deeply painful. Yet, it did not change a fundamental truth: First Peoples remain rights holders, entitled to self-determination, participation in decisions that affect their lives, freedom from discrimination and the full enjoyment of their human rights.
The referendum was a vote on a specific constitutional mechanism. It was not a vote on whether First Peoples should be heard, respected or treated with dignity.
The contrast between the overwhelming support for the 1967 referendum and the rejection of the Voice in 2023 reflects a changing political and social landscape around First Peoples’ rights in Australia.
While the 1967 referendum united Australians behind the removal of discriminatory constitutional provisions, the 2023 referendum exposed significant disagreement about how First Peoples should participate in decisions that affect their lives.
‘The conversations that informed A Fair and Just Future for First Peoples: Social Justice Report 2025 made clear that First Peoples continue to call for a genuine say in decisions that affect their lives, stronger protection of their rights and greater accountability from governments,’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said.
‘The referendum result did not diminish those aspirations. Nor did it diminish governments’ responsibility to uphold the human rights of First Peoples and work in genuine partnership with us.
‘The referendum campaign was also marked by significant misinformation and disinformation, which often distracted public debate from the substance of the proposal and the aspirations of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Three years on, governments should reflect on whether they have shown the courage and integrity needed to advance those aspirations.
‘Participation, rights and accountability are interconnected. We will only ever close the gap by upholding the human rights of First Peoples, including the right to self-determination and the right to participate in decisions that affect our lives.
‘The agenda for change identified by First Peoples remains as relevant today as it was before the referendum.'
You can read more in Commissioner Kiss’s opinion article on our website: https://loom.ly/Ta5hIm4
