the aim of the referendum is to empower aboriginal and torres strait islander people and help to narrows education, poverty and health. suzanne andrews runs the health centres in yarrabah and knows all too well the poor health outcomes in communities like hers. when you look at aboriginal communities and the conditions that they're in, so there's a housing issue, overcrowding in the houses. when you have overcrowding in the houses, you have multiple health conditions that's going on in that house. how do we start to tackle all of that? and it's notjust fixing the house, it's fixing the individual, and it's fixing the family and then the wider community. polling suggests that the majority of indigenous australians want this proposal to pass, but aboriginal and torres strait islanders make up little more than 3% of australia's population. ironically, those deciding the vote and the fate of indigenous australians are outsiders once again. this is about making sure they're actually heard. this was meant to be a chance to unite the country and bring about reconciliation. but it's been a bitt

the aim of the referendum is to empower aboriginal and - to empower aboriginal and torres strait islandern issues such as education, poverty and health. suzanne andrews runs a health centre and knows all too well the four outcomes in communities like hers. ~ communities like hers. when you look at communities _ communities like hers. when you look at communities and - communities like hers. when you look at communities and the - look at communities and the conditions they are in, there is a housing issue, overcrowding and houses. you have multiple health conditions going on in that house. how do we start to tackle all of that? it is notjust fixing the house but fixing the individual and the family and the wider community.— the family and the wider community. the family and the wider communi . ., ,, , ., community. polls suggest a ma'ori community. polls suggest a majority of _ community. polls suggest a majority of indigenous - majority of indigenous australians want this proposal to pass but they make up little more than 3% of australia's population. ironically, those deciding the vote a

decades, australia has grappled with how best to improve inequalities faced by aboriginal and torres strait islanderting into reconciliation, but it's taking a long time. my feeling — australia is fundamentally bigoted, cos i've got an italian background and i grew up with it so i know what it's like. in this vast country, australia's indigenous communities make up less than 4% of the population. those who decided this referendum and the direction of theirfuture were non—indigenous voters. ahead of the vote, karen had resigned herself to a "no." we're so used to being let down. i still have this almost high expectation that might prove my point that what australia is made of and that's made of not wanting to go forward and hold our hand. this referendum has forced australia to reflect on the legacy of colonisation, which still affects so many indigenous communities. but for many, it's notjust about how australia sees itself as a nation, but how the world sees australia. the proposal may have been defeated but the conversation carries on. katy watson, bbc news, in sydney. let's get some of the day's

parliamentary body for indigenous affairs, i want to acknowledge that for many aboriginal and torres strait islander people, this company has been a heavy burden and this result will be very difficult to accept, many prominent indigenous people australians have put their heart and soul into this cause, not just over the past few weeks but over decades, i have been honored and humbled to stand with you and witness your extraordinary courage, your... great love for our country, for your deep faith in our people. i know this result will be difficult for some , but making progress is never easy, and progress is not always in a straight line, there are breakthroughs and ruptures, but i am confident that through this campaign and millions of conversations, a new generation of leaders has emerged indigenous population. in ivano-frankivsk, the sixth annual ... forumpathy is underway, after the news release , the espresso tv channel will broadcast it live, and now we will hear from my colleague ivan haruk, who is working on the sidelines of the forum today. ivan, i i welcome you again and i am waiting for yo

i must admit that for many aboriginal and torres strait islander people, this company has been difficult burden, and this result will be very difficult to accept. many outstanding indigenous australians have poured their hearts and souls into this cause, not just over the past few weeks but over decades, and i have been honored and humbled to stand with you and witness your extraordinary courage. your great love for our country, for your deep faith in our people. i know this result will be difficult for some, but making progress is never easy, and progress is not always in a straight line, there are breaks and breaks, but i am confident that thanks to this campaign and millions of conversations, a new generation of indigenous leaders has emerged . another one is going to the ports of great odesa. a caravan consisting of three ships. this was reported in the center of transport strategies. in total, more than 34,500 tons can be loaded. the largest of them is loaded with ore. as of today, it is known that 29 ships have already used the temporary sea corridor since august. according to the

known as the voice, to advise government and parliament on matters relating to aboriginal and torres strait islandering centre—left labour government faces a big challenge from the conservative opposition national party. labour has been in power for six years, but changed its leader injanuary whenjacinda ardern resigned as prime minister, handing power to chris hipkins. jimjordan, a hardline conservative congressman from the american state of ohio, has become the latest republican to be nominated for the post of house speaker. it's not clear if he has the backing of a majority of party members needed to secure the position. sir michael caine has confirmed he has retired from acting, following the release of his latest film. the 90—year—old screen legend stars in the great escaper opposite glenda jackson, who completed the film months before her death in june. the former england cricketer turned tv presenter freddie flintoff has reached a financial agreement with the commercial wing of the bbc — bbc studios — after he was involved in a crash while filming top gear last december. the settlement is rep

a yes vote will see aboriginal and torres strait island people included in the constitution for the firstbinding advice. live now to our australia correspondent phil mercer who's in sydney. this has been ongoing now. tell us about what might happen today or has been going on. the official today or has been going on. tue: official referendum today or has been going on. tta: official referendum vote today or has been going on. tt2 official referendum vote is to be held on october ia. injust over a week and a half. voting is well and truly under way. all six australian states and the two main territories have now opened early polling and in recent years, recent australian elections, many millions of australians have taken the opportunity to vote before polling day. this referendum is well and truly alive. australia's constitution does not recognise or mention its indigenous people. australians are now having the opportunity to change that by voting for a constitutional amendment that would set up an indigenous voice to parliament, as you described. this would be a permanent independent body

in a joint statement, groups representing australia's aboriginal people and torres strait islanders calledfor a week of silence. they wrote -- "that people who have only been on this continent for 235 years would refuse to recognize those whose home this land has been for 60,000 and more years, is beyond reason." this is dean parkin, who led the campaign to support the referendum. >> i want to state directly to those australians who voted no with hardness in your hearts, please understand -- people never wanted to take anything from you. we have never and will never mean you harm. all we have wanted was to join with you our indigenous story, our indigenous culture, and not to take away what it is you have but to add to it, to strengthen it, to enrich it. amy: in the democratic republic of the congo, at least eight united nations peacekeepers have been suspended and detained over allegations of sexual assault. the workers where based in eastern congo, which has seen violence soar in recent years due to conflict among dozens of armed groups. there are over 12,000 u.n. peacekeepers in the con

known as the voice, to advise government and parliament on matters relating to aboriginal and torres strait islanderetails on the vote. this was an expected result but the leaders of the yes campaign are now coming out, saying they are devastated by the result. we are yet to hear from the no camp but certainly this was expected. it was a referendum brought by the prime minister and he said this would be a referendum that did notjust define how australia saw itself, how the world saw australia, so certainly a lot of reflection here in australia after what has been a very bitter and divisive campaign at times. talk us through that because it has been described as a bruising campaign by many people. talk us through it. it was a referendum that was called to try to unite australia and many people would argue that it did just the opposite. those who wanted the referendum to pass said this would empower indigenous communities, where there were huge disparities when it comes to health and wealth and education and this was seen as a way to try and address some of these key issues. but the no vote, it was sp

known as the voice, to advise government and parliament on matters relating to aboriginal and torres strait islanderout saying they are devastated by the result. —— they voted no. this was expected, a referendum brought by the prime minister when he said this would be a referendum that did notjust define how australia saw itself but hope the world so australia so certainly there is reflection on australia after what has been a very bitter and divisive campaign. talk us throu~h bitter and divisive campaign. talk us through that, _ bitter and divisive campaign. talk us through that, it's been described as a bruising campaign by many people. as a bruising campaign by many --eole. , . people. they were a referendum called to try _ people. they were a referendum called to try and _ people. they were a referendum called to try and unite _ people. they were a referendum called to try and unite australia | called to try and unite australia and many people would argue that it did just the opposite. those who wanted the referendum to pass said this would empower indigenous communities, communities that there

have had 90% support the problem was that the voice was both recognition of aboriginal and torres strait islanders. an but it was also creating a new entity, a de facto third, third chamber of the parliament based on race and australia is a particularly egalitarian country and suggesting that one race be treated any differently to any other race in australia . it just other race in australia. it just doesn't pass the pub test. as we say in australia , and it was say in australia, and it was voted down accordingly in every single state. this was voted down 60, 40, voted no nationally . so that is a whopping defeat for the yes campaign because they got it wrong from the outset. people want to recognise aboriginals in the constitution often, but not the way it was proposed by the prime minister, anthony albanese. proposed by the prime minister, ant i ony albanese. proposed by the prime minister, antiony isayingie. proposed by the prime minister, antiony saying to you earlier >> i was saying to you earlier because you met outside, that i've been in dannin and was absolutely shocked to see the number o

constitution to recognize the first peoples of austria by establishing an aboriginal and torres strait islander the prime minister is delivering on that election promise by holding this referendum. indigenous australians are overrepresented in almost every poor statistic, including poverty, lower academic achievement and poverty rates. the voice is intended to help remedy these ingrained problems. the proposed a body of indigenous australians would directly advise the government on what their communities need. >> yes makes it possible. paul: polls truly nationwide and almost every state. the no campaign has use this to start out on a lack of detail and dysfunction of the voice, warning that it risks aggravating racial division. >> is divisive and permanent. if you don't know, vote no. paul: successful referendums are rare. 44 have been held since the country was confederated. just eight have passed. shery: as we head toward the boat, take a look at out markets are trading, because we are seeing pressure on the board with kiwi stocks at the moment using .94%. -- .9 f 1%. also following the asx 2

the aim of the referendum is to empower aboriginal and torres strait islander people and help to narrowlth. suzanne andrews runs the health centres in yarrabah and knows all too well the poor health outcomes in communities like hers. when you look at aboriginal communities and the conditions that they're in, so there's a housing issue, overcrowding in the houses. when you have overcrowding in the houses, you have multiple health conditions that's going on in that house. how do we start to tackle all of that? and it's notjust fixing the house, it's fixing the individual, and it's fixing the family and then the wider community. polling suggests that the majority of indigenous australians want this proposal to pass, but aboriginal and torres strait islanders make up little more than 3% of australia's population. ironically, those deciding the vote and the fate of indigenous australians are outsiders once again. this is about making sure they're actually heard. this was meant to be a chance to unite the country and bring about reconciliation. but it's been a bitter campaign packed with misi

a yes vote will see aboriginal and torres strait island people included in the constitution for the firstime and the body, called the voice, would give parliament non—binding advice. our correspondent, phil mercer, has more from sydney. the australian prime minister anthony bernays said that the voice and parliament would make a practical positive difference to the lives of indigenous people who suffer is proportionately higher rates of poverty, ill—health, and improvement —— imprisonment. indigenous people can expect to live eight years less long than their nonindigenous counterparts. the prime minister says that the voice to parliament would make a difference to first nations communities. on the other hand you have the no campaign which is a broad church including conservative and opposition politicians who say that this will be another unnecessary level of bureaucracy and they criticise the lack of detail as to how the voice would work and who would serve on it. we to how the voice would work and who would serve on it.— would serve on it. we are leaving that report _ would serve on it.