Australians poised to reject indigenous rights in landmark vote

Australian voters look set to reject greater rights and recognition for Aboriginal citizens on Saturday (Oct 14), in a bitterly fought referendum that has rekindled the country's long history of racial strife.

Australian voters look set to reject greater rights and recognition for Aboriginal citizens on Saturday (Oct 14), in a bitterly fought referendum that has rekindled the country's long history of racial strife.

Almost 18 million voters will be asked to decide on a government-backed proposal to recognise indigenous Australians in the 122-year-old constitution for the first time.

The proposal would also create an indigenous Voice, a representative body that can have a say on issues that affect indigenous peoples battling poorer health, lower incomes and higher barriers to education.

Centre-left Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that a "yes" vote would end "200 years of broken promises and betrayals, failures and false starts".