Australia is on the verge of making a historic constitutional reform, which would recognise the Aboriginal people as the original inhabitants of the country and remove racist clauses from the country’s constitution.
The proposals were presented, which called for a referendum to decide on the issue before the next general election in 2013, after a panel of 19 experts unanimously supported them.
The proposed referendum has also got the backing of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who said,
A previous 1999 referendum which called for recognition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first people of the continent was defeated.
In a 300-page report, the 19-member expert panel stated,
The proposals were presented, which called for a referendum to decide on the issue before the next general election in 2013, after a panel of 19 experts unanimously supported them.
The proposed referendum has also got the backing of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who said,
"It is the right time to say yes to an understanding of our past, to say yes to constitutional change, and to say yes to a future more united and more reconciled than we have ever been before.However, referendums are notoriously difficult to pass in Australia, were only 8 of 44 referendums have been passed in the country’s history, the last successful vote being held in 1967.
It is going to require each and every one of us involved in politics to find it in ourselves to be our best selves, to advocate this case for change with the maximum degree of unity."
A previous 1999 referendum which called for recognition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first people of the continent was defeated.
In a 300-page report, the 19-member expert panel stated,
"For many Australians, the failure of a referendum on recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would result in confusion about the nation's values, commitment to racial non-discrimination, and sense of national identity."The panel's co-chair, Aboriginal elder Professor Patrick Dodson called on the country to take "a remarkable step forward", saying,
"This is a time when truth and respect for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples needs to be achieved in our, through the recognition in our constitution. Strong leadership and our national interest are critical for our nation to go forward."
