Australians urged to support Indigenous recognition ahead of referendum

A depiction of the Australian Aboriginal Flag is seen on a window sill in Sydney

Thu, February 23, 2023 
By Jill Gralow and Praveen Menon

ADELAIDE/SYDNEY (Reuters) - A First Nations group leading the push for the constitutional recognition of Australia's Indigenous people called on all citizens on Thursday to vote in favour of the change to help bring the country together.

Australia is preparing for a landmark referendum to change its constitution to include an Indigenous "Voice", which is a representative body that can advise parliament on policies affecting the Aboriginal and Torres Islander people.

The more than 800,000 Indigenous people and their ancestors have inhabited the land for about 65,000 years. But there is no mention of them in Australia's constitution.


Dean Parkin, director of "From the Heart", a campaign group, said voting yes was the referendum was a chance for all Australians to connect.

"It means you get to connect your sense of what it means to be Australian to the oldest continuous culture on Earth," he told an audience in Adelaide where the campaign was launched.

"It is a very small thing, it's a modest thing, and yet very profound."

The government is expected to introduce a bill in parliament in March outlining the proposed changes to the constitution. Once approved in parliament, the referendum will be put to Australians. The only way to change the constitution is by holding a referendum.

"We are kicking off a process that is going to result in millions of conversations between now and the referendum," Parkin said.

"It's time, history is calling," another speaker said at the event.

The referendum is one of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's key initiatives and he has staked much of his political capital on it.

There have been 44 proposals for constitutional change in 19 referendums in Australia, but only eight have been approved.

In the last referendum in 1999, Australians voted against changing the constitution to establish the Commonwealth of Australia as a republic with the British monarch and Governor-General being replaced by a president appointed by parliament.

(Editing by Nick Macfie)

Factbox-Five things to know about Australia's planned Indigenous referendum


Indigenous Australians maintain presence at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra

Thu, February 23, 2023 
By Praveen Menon

(Reuters) - Australia's government plans to hold a referendum between August and December this year on recognising the nation's Indigenous people in its constitution.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who represent about 3.2% of Australia's population, are currently not mentioned in the constitution.

Here are five things to know about the referendum:

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has proposed adding these three sentences to the constitution:

* There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.


* The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to Parliament and the Executive Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

* The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to the composition, functions, powers and procedures of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

WHAT IS THE PROPOSED REFERENDUM QUESTION?

Albanese has said the referendum question to be put to Australians should be as simple and clear as: "Do you support an alteration to the Constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice?"

The question has not been finalised and more clarity on this is expected in the coming months.

HOW DOES THE REFERENDUM WORK?

The government will introduce a bill in parliament in March outlining the proposed changes to the constitution.

This will be scrutinised by a parliamentary committee.

Once approved in parliament, it will be sent to the Governor General, the local representative of the British monarch, who issues a writ for a referendum.

HOW MANY VOTES ARE NEEDED?

To change the constitution, the government must secure what is known as a double majority in the referendum.

That means more than 50% voters must vote in favour nationally, plus a majority of voters in a majority of the states must back the change.

Votes of people living in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the Northern Territory regions, and any of Australia's external territories, count towards the national majority only.

Poll turnout will be high as voting is compulsory.

HOW HAVE PAST REFERENDUMS FARED?

There have been 44 proposals for constitutional change in 19 referendums, and only 8 of these proposals have been approved.

In the last referendum in 1999, Australians voted against changing the constitution to establish the Commonwealth of Australia as a republic with the British monarch and Governor-General being replaced by a President appointed by a two-thirds majority of members of parliament.

(Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

Explainer-What is Australia's Indigenous 'Voice to Parliament' campaign?


Members of Koomurri Aboriginal Dance Troupe participate in a traditional Australian Aboriginal smoking ceremony as part of celebrations for Australia Day, which marks the arrival of Britain's First Fleet in 1788, in central Sydney

Thu, February 23, 2023 
By Praveen Menon

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia plans to hold a federal referendum later this year to constitutionally recognise its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the establishment of a representative Voice that will provide non-binding advice to the parliament.

Here's what you need to know about Australia's 'Voice to Parliament' campaign:

WHO ARE AUSTRALIA'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the Indigenous people of Australia.

They represent about 3.2% of its population. The more than 800,000 Indigenous people and their ancestors have inhabited the land for about 65,000 years. They comprise several hundred groups that have their own histories, traditions and languages.


WHAT ARE THE ISSUES?

Australia's Indigenous population shrank after the British colonisation in 1788 as they were dispossessed of their land, exposed to new diseases, forced to work in slave-like conditions, and killed by colonisers.

The marginalisation of Australia's First Nations people has continued until recent years.

Aboriginal people track below national averages on most socio-economic measures and suffer disproportionately high rates of suicide, domestic violence and imprisonment. Their life expectancy is about 8 years lower than non-Indigenous people.

One in three Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families over 1910 to the 1970s in a bid to assimilate them into white society. The government apologised for the so-called 'Stolen Generation' in 2008.

ARE OTHER FORMER BRITISH COLONIES BETTER?

First Nations people in other former British colonies continue to face marginalisation, but some countries have done better in ensuring their rights.

Canada recognises the rights of its Indigenous people under the Constitution Act 1982.

New Zealand created Maori seats in parliament, allowing the indigenous population to choose to vote for candidates for these seats or participate in the general election.

Te reo Maori has been recognised as an official language and is used in schools, universities and public offices.

HOW DID THE VOICE REFERENDUM COME ABOUT?

Indigenous people began to be included in Australia's census figures after a referendum to amend the constitution in 1967, more than 60 years after it was established as a nation in 1901.

In 2017, about 250 First Nations representatives gathered at the sacred monolith landmark of Uluru in central Australia and produced the Uluru statement from the Heart, which calls for a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution.

The conservative government at the time rejected the call.

In 2022, Labor's Anthony Albanese became prime minister and said Australians would have their say in a referendum to include an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

Australia has so far only passed eight out of 19 referendums.

WHO IS FOR AND AGAINST THE VOICE?

A poll by The Australian newspaper showed 56% of voters support the change in the constitution, while 37% oppose it.

The referendum is one of Albanese's key issues and he has staked much of his political capital on it.

Left-wing Greens party, Independent lawmakers, several welfare groups, national religious and ethno-religious groups support the referendum.

But there are those who oppose it on both sides of the political divide.

Outspoken Indigenous leader Lidia Thorpe quit the Green party over concerns about the Voice proposal. She wants a treaty between the government and indigenous people, similar to what exists in New Zealand and Canada.

The conservative Liberal Party has not said if it would support a "yes" vote and the rural-based National Party said it would oppose. The Liberals and the Nationals have a long-standing coalition agreement.

A "no" campaign, or "Recognise a Better Way" campaign, has proposed to set up an all-party parliamentary committee to focus on the rights of native title holders instead of the referendum.

(Additional reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Himani Sarkar)