Has Australasia lurched right on race?

Indigenous people in Australasia have had a tough month. In a referendum on October 14th Australian voters rejected their Labor government’s proposal to establish an indigenous advisory body, or “Voice to Parliament”. On the same day New Zealanders elected the most conservative governing coalition since the adoption of proportional representation in 1993. The new prime minister, Chris Luxon, pledges to scrap policies designed to boost Maori influence in politics. Have the two countries moved right on race?

Australians certainly moved against the “Voice”, which was meant to give Aboriginal people more say in policymaking. Polls last year suggested two-thirds would approve the necessary constitutional amendments. Yet over 60% voted “no”, rejecting the proposal in every state. Similarly, in dismissing their Labour government, New Zealanders rejected its schemes to promote the Maori language and hazy plans to “co-govern” with tribes. The country’s right-wing minor parties, ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First, called these “divisive race-based policies”. Both increased their vote. Results are still coming in, but Mr Luxon’s centre-right National Party may need both minnows for a majority.