The Know Daily - Thursday 12 October

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Following a six-year refurbishment, two venues at the iconic Brighton Dome are set to reopen next month. The £38m restoration of the Grade I and II-listed Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre includes two new bars, a fresh copper roof and 5G technology - with the local council leader describing it as “one of the most important and ambitious projects” ever undertaken in Brighton.

🇦🇺 Landmark referendum

Australia is preparing to vote on whether to change its constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Tell me more.
Australia is “unusual among settler nations” in that it has never made a treaty with its Indigenous people, one colonial historian told the BBC. The referendum, which is taking place this Saturday, is hoping to change that.

The proposal - known as “the voice” - is to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the country’s constitution, and create a body for them to advise the government on the issues affecting their communities.

Why is this a big deal?
Advocates say a yes vote would help “prioritise Indigenous health, education, employment and housing”, said Reuters. Last week, a group of historians called on voters to consider the nation’s colonial past when casting their ballot, saying the “historic injustices” suffered by Indigenous Australians warrant a voice to parliament.

But the referendum has also exposed “sharp divides in society and within the Indigenous community”, said Al Jazeera. Opponents argue the move would split the country along racial lines and give First Nations people greater rights than other Australians - a claim that legal experts reject.

And what does public opinion say?
All recent polling has found that the referendum is on track to be defeated. The most recent and largest poll, by the Resolve Political Monitor, found that “no” voters led the “yes” camp by 56% to 44%. A separate YouGov poll found that opposition was strongest among “older voters and those living outside cities”, said Reuters.

And while the only two polls taken among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voters have found that more than 80% of respondents favoured the reform, support is not unanimous.

So what should we be looking out for?
Early voting began on 2 October in parts of the country, but Australians have until 14 October to cast their ballot - something which the majority of citizens will do under the country’s compulsory voting model. Results are expected shortly afterwards.

Want to find out more about what the upcoming referendum may mean? We recommend this ABC podcast.