Australians reject proposal for constitutionalized Indigenous advisory body in referendum vote

Australia has overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give greater political rights to Indigenous people in a referendum. All six states voted No to a proposal to amend the constitution to recognise First Nations people and create a body for them to advise the government. [...] The referendum, dubbed "The Voice", was Australia's first in almost a quarter of a century. With the majority of ballots counted, the "No" vote led "Yes" 60% to 40%. [...] Supporters said that entrenching the Indigenous peoples into the constitution would unite Australia and usher in a new era. No leaders said that the idea was divisive, would create special "classes" of citizens where some were more equal than others, and the new advisory body would slow government decision-making.
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