A common claim is that the Voice to Parliament will have veto power - but does that have any basis in reality? What argument is there to be had over it? The answer is: none. The wording of the amendment prevents such an interpretation and clearly limits it to just being an advisory body, but on top of that we'd need to radically alter SEVERAL sections across multiple chapters of the constitution for the claim to make sense. Simply put: the idea it has any veto power over the decisions of Parliament, or could hold up/delay/introduce a bill, is just baseless. It's entirely up to Parliament whether or not to vote a bill through, or to send it off for consultation and examination with other groups/bodies (Voice or no Voice).

On top of this: the idea that it could just manipulate the High Court for its own purposes fundamentally also misrepresents the role and powers of the High Court - and so this claim that such a constitutional or legal power exists requires us to ignore/misrepresent every single element involved in every single way. I can't be clearer about this. The only thing the Voice has is the ability to inform and, arguably, influence the decisions of Parliament - but ultimately it still rests in the general public as to whether or not that decision is accepted at the polls next election and so the voters nationwide remain, as always, the ones in control of the democratic process.

The claim that the Voice's approval is needed for a bill was labelled "absurd gibberish" by AAP Fact Check, but I'll be a bit kinder about it: https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/voice-approval-claim-is-absurd-gibberish/

Experts outright reject these claims (because they don't make sense): https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/constitutional-experts-reject-claims-the-voice-would-have-veto-power-or-invite-legal-action-20220811-p5b92t.html

For more information I recommend reliable sources such as RMIT FactLab: https://www.rmit.edu.au/about/schools-colleges/media-and-communication/industry/factlab/debunking-misinformation

And AAP Fact Check: https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/

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Auspol Explained would like to acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people and their Elders as the owners and custodians of the Land that the episode was recorded and edited on. This Land was stolen and never ceded. It always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.