SYDNEY — Australia’s parliament will on Monday (Oct 16) meet for the first time since the failure of a referendum on indigenous recognition that could weaken the authority of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

More than 60 per cent of Australians voted “No” in the landmark referendum on Saturday that asked whether to alter the constitution to recognise the country’s indigenous peoples, and create an advisory body that would have advised parliament on matters concerning the community.

Albanese staked significant political capital on a “Yes” vote, with the opposition Liberal party opposing it. He will face Liberal leader Peter Dutton during parliamentary question time at 2pm local time on Monday (11am Singapore time).

The outcome is a major setback for reconciliation efforts with the country’s indigenous community and damages Australia’s image in the world regarding how it treats them.

“The damage from Saturday’s vote will be extreme,” an editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald said on Monday.

“This will set back the cause of reconciliation, despite what politicians are saying.”

The country’s main business newspaper, the Australian Financial Review, called the result “heartbreaking” for the country’s indigenous community, which makes up around 3.8 per cent of the population and has suffered from centuries of neglect and discrimination since colonisation by Great Britain in 1788. REUTERS