Support slumps for Australian Indigenous rights referendum

Australia's historic Indigenous rights referendum is haemorrhaging support, with a barrage of damning new polls showing only a minority in favour of the October vote. 

If the referendum passes, Indigenous Australians -- whose ancestors have lived on the continent for around 60,000 years -- will be recognised in the constitution for the first time.

They would also gain a constitutionally enshrined right to be consulted on laws that impact their communities.

But less than two weeks after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched the "Vote Yes" campaign in a blaze of publicity, polling shows the national mood is souring on the idea.

One poll Monday showed 57 percent of respondents were against the referendum, known as the Voice, versus 43 percent in favour. Another at the weekend showed an even wider split of 61 to 37.