Indigenous recognition referendum: Report set to show Government, Labor, Greens support vote for constitutional change

Indigenous recognition referendum: Report set to show Government, Labor, Greens support vote for constitutional change

Sydney : A key, multi-partisan report, with support from the Government, Labor and the Greens is expected to recommend a referendum be held to change the constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.The report — to be tabled in Federal Parliament on Thursday — will also suggest removal of provisions that allow racial discrimination from key parts of the founding document.It will provide a frame of reference for further discussions the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader will have with selected Indigenous representatives in Sydney early next month.A leaked draft of the committee’s report recommended repealing Section 25 of the constitution, which currently allows the states to disqualify people from voting on the basis of race.It recommends the “repeal or amendment” of Section 51 (xxvi) to remove reference to race.
The provision currently says the Parliament shall have power to make special commonwealth laws for people “of any race”. The provision currently says the Parliament shall have power to make special commonwealth laws for people “of any race”.The draft document further says a referendum should consider including a provision to recognise that Australia was first occupied by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, acknowledge the continuing connection of Indigenous people to their traditional lands and waters and respect continuing Indigenous cultures, language and heritage.Many of the recommendations are in line with the report of an expert panel that provided advice to the Gillard government in 2012.

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