Page 587 - Peter Dutton News Today

Nigel Browne woke up on Sunday questioning his place in Australia - a painfully ironic fate for one of its First Peoples. The day before, Australians rejected a referendum on whether to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the nation's 122-year-old constitution, and give them greater political say. There was no expectation the "Voice to Parliament" - an advisory body made up of Indigenous people - would be a miracle cure for the problems they face.

Saturday’s referendum vote reinforces sense that contemporary Liberal party has decoupled from its blue-ribbon metropolitan heartland

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who campaigned for a “yes” vote, urges divided nation to now come together in a "spirit of unity and healing".

Australia will look for new ways to lift Indigenous living standards after voters soundly rejected a proposal to create a new advocacy committee, the deputy prime minister said on Sunday. Every state and mainland territory apart from Australian Capital Territory voted against a proposal to enshrine in the constitution an Indigenous Voice to Parliament to advocate on behalf of the nation’s most disadvantaged ethnic minority. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said his government remain...

It would be a big mistake for Yes supporters to think the result was driven only by political lies and racism. A lot of decent people said No and we need to understand why.

It should be no surprise that Australians have proved they are not in the mood to change the Constitution. They never are when opposition enters the fray.

Readers respond to the referendum result with an outpouring of sadness

The vote demonstrated that the project of progressive politics in Australia remains brittle.

The brutal dig at the PM came after two Labor insiders unleashed on the Yes campaign for making a critical blunder.

If there is to be any healing after the Voice referendum, it will be a long journey, writes FRANK BONGIORNO.