Lewis Jackson and Samuel MacKeith
Sydney (Reuters) - On Saturday, the Australian Prime Minister made a final appeal, urging his fellow Australians to support a nationwide referendum to recognize indigenous people in the constitution, as the country is conducting a survey to decide on this historic measure.
According to a transcript, Abbott said in Sydney, "I sincerely hope that Australians, as they walk into the polling booth today, vote in favor."
Australians must answer in the vote whether they agree to amend the 122-year-old constitution to recognize indigenous people and Torres Strait Islanders, and establish an indigenous body called "Voice to Parliament" to advise the government on indigenous issues.
A survey released on Saturday showed that while support for "yes" had increased at the last minute, the "no" vote is likely to succeed. Scholars and human rights advocates are concerned that a victory for the "no" camp could set back reconciliation efforts by years.
Supporters of the proposal believe that enshrining the voice of indigenous people in the constitution will unite Australia and usher in a new era for indigenous people, who make up 3.8% of the population and are the most disadvantaged according to most socio-economic indicators.
Many indigenous residents support this change, but some say it is a diversion from achieving practical and positive outcomes and does not fully address the issues affecting them. Political opponents argue that the measure would cause division, be ineffective, and slow down government decision-making.
Voting began at 8 a.m. (from 9 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time in Sydney and Melbourne to midnight Greenwich Mean Time in Perth) despite nearly half of the over 17 million eligible voters having already voted early. Voting is compulsory in Australia.
Counting will begin after voting ends at 6 p.m. (0700 Greenwich Mean Time in Sydney), and the Australian Electoral Commission will announce the results.
At Bondi Beach in Sydney, indigenous man Michael Maoni said he voted in support of "equality for all and for the voice of my people to be part of our constitution."
Nearby, Sydney resident Jeff Samna said he voted yes, hoping "this will bring change so we can improve the conditions of indigenous residents around us."
Another voter and "no" campaigner, Greg Mason, doubts the usefulness of the Voice to Parliament for indigenous people.
He said, "The Voice to America is another bureaucracy on top of multiple bureaucracies that do not provide answers. They cannot provide solutions for intergenerational change."
In Australia, referendums are difficult to pass, with only 8 out of 44 referendums succeeding since the country's founding in 1901. Amending the constitution requires a majority vote nationwide and in at least four out of six states.
(Stefica Nicol Bikes Sydney additional reporting; Writing by Pravin Menon; Editing by William Mallard and Clarence Fernandez)
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