"Be aware of the Voice referendum," reads the opening line written in all caps of a Facebook post shared on August 11, 2023.
Australians will vote in a referendum, expected in mid-October, on a plan to give Indigenous people a so-called "voice" in national policymaking. The proposal would also give Indigenous Australians recognition in the constitution for the first time.
Supporters say it would help address the colonial legacy and inequalities faced by Indigenous Australians, whose ancestors have lived on the continent for at least 60,000 years. Opponents say it is divisive, lacks detail, adds unnecessary bureaucracy and risks clogging up the courts.
The Facebook post goes on to say the government has set up a "trick" to get the referendum passed: the ballot will have two questions with the first more heavily weighted than the other.
The post says voters who tick "yes" to the question "do you recognise the indigenous people (sic)?" will have their "no" vote on the other question overridden.
"Tick NO to both questions," it says, adding: "Also, do it in PEN and NOT with the pencil they will provide you with. Dangerous times ahead folks."
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