Australia’s rejection of Indigenous Voice labelled ‘shameful’

Indigenous women sit on a bench at a polling place in Redfern as Australians cast their final votes in the referendum (AP)

Indigenous campaigners who wanted Australia to create an advisory body representing its most disadvantaged ethnic minority have said its rejection in a constitutional referendum was a “shameful act”.

Many proponents of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament maintained a week of silence and flew Aboriginal flags at half mast across Australia after the October 14 vote deciding against enshrining such a representative committee in the constitution.