Call to recognise 'first peoples' in Constitution
The debate about formally recognising Indigenous Australians in the Constitution is set to flare following the release of recommendations from the expert panel advising the Government on the issue. The panel, chaired by former head of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Patrick Dodson, has set out major changes to the Constitution that would recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people "as the first peoples of Australia". "This is the time when truth and respect for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples needs to be achieved." It wants to replace them with sections recognising and acknowledging "the continuing relationship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with their traditional lands and water" and "the need to secure the advancement" of Indigenous Australians. Under the recommendations another new section would be added, recognising that Indigenous languages "are the original Australian languages, a part of our national heritage".
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