After Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese outlined a draft referendum question on whether to set up a consultative Indigenous body to parliament, social media users shared a claim that this would also lead to Australians losing their private property rights. The claim is false. Legal experts told AFP that the Indigenous body -- or "voice" -- would have neither the power to pass laws nor take away property.

"Did you know, Under the Native Title Act, aborigines have no private property rights. Under the Uluru Voice, neither will you…#SayNo", reads a Facebook post shared on August 3, 2022.

The post -- which was shared over 580 times -- was published by Josephine Cashman, who ran as a One Nation party candidate in the New South Wales seat of Lyne in May.

Screenshot of the misleading Facebook post, captured on August 10, 2022

Cashman's post came after Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese outlined a draft referendum question in a bid to change the country's constitution to set up a consultative Indigenous body in parliament.

The constitution does not currently recognise Indigenous peoples, and the move to enshrine a so-called "Indigenous Voice" -- which would advise the government on decisions that affect them -- would require a nationwide referendum.

Albanese had promised to hold a referendum vote before his term ends in 2025, but the One Nation party announced on August 5 it would spearhead a "no" vote campaign in response.

Her claim was also shared by other...

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