Join a national conversation on the constitutional recognition of Aborginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians

Lynn MacLaren MLC urged people to get involved in the national conversation about how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians could be recognised in the Australian Constitution.

Late last year the Prime Minister appointed a 20 member Expert Panel on the Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians to consult the community and report back to the Government.

The panel, made of up Indigenous and non-Indigenous community leaders, legal experts and members of parliament, has begun travelling around the country to ask Australians to think about constitutional change and to contribute their views.

Panel member Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues said a discussion paper had been released today as a starting point for the consultations.

"The paper sets out background information about the Constitution, how it can be changed and the potential benefits for all Australians from constitutional recognition.

"It also explores possible ideas for constitutional recognition that will be discussed and developed during the panel's community consultations," said Senator Siewert.

Senator Siewert said the Australian Constitution, drafted more than a century ago without any input from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australians, made no acknowledgement of Indigenous Australians in the nation's history or in contemporary society.

"Many Australians believe the constitutional recognition of Indigenous people is a vital further step towards their full recognition.

"There is also concern that not all Australian citizens are treated equally under the Constitution and that it permits laws that discriminate on the basis of race.

"While the 1967 referendum on including Indigenous Australians in the census received widespread public support, it did not deliver the equality and opportunity that people had hoped for," Senator Siewert said.

The Australian Government, the Opposition, the Australian Greens and the Independent members of Federal Parliament have all given in principle support to recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution.

"I'm proud of the role the Australian Greens played in getting this issue on the national agenda, I'm very committed to this process and a positive outcome" said Senator Siewert.
The panel will make recommendations to the Prime Minister in December
2011 on options to change the Constitution which are most likely to have the support of the Australian people if put to a referendum.

The panel, co-chaired by Professor Patrick Dodson and Mr Mark Leibler AC also includes the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mr Mick Gooda and the co-Chairs of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples.