'We were never Australians back then': From being counted to being heard
7 years, 10 months ago

'We were never Australians back then': From being counted to being heard

ABC  

"We were outcasts; we were never Australians back then." Indigenous Australians' unique status The case won by Indigenous land rights campaigner Eddie Mabo would lead to a third of Australia coming under Native Title. Australia's history traverses the dispossession and exclusion of Indigenous people and a broader white Australia policy to keep out "coloured races", to today's general acceptance of what Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has called the world's most successful multi-cultural society. Indigenous people are seeking political architecture right now — constitutional reform, treaties — that provide mechanisms for resolving disputes and allowing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples greater input into policy that directly affects their lives and communities. Duncan Ivison says recognition of Australia's first peoples needs to be seen as an ongoing transformation in the relations between Indigenous people and the state.

Australia Political Rights Constitutional Land Indigenous Commonwealth Indigenous People Idea Aboriginal Native Title Peoples Indigenous Leaders Treaties Indigenous Claims Group Rights  political  indigenous  treaties  rights  land  counted  aboriginal  idea  constitutional  peoples  australia  australians  heard

History of this topic

Indigenous leaders break their silence, call referendum defeat 'appalling and mean-spirited'
1 year, 5 months ago

Indigenous leaders break their silence, call referendum defeat 'appalling and mean-spirited'

ABC  

Indigenous leaders who supported the Yes case at last week’s Voice referendum have written to the prime minister saying the No vote was a “shameful victory”. Key points: The letter said the constitution belongs to "white people" and no reform of it that "includes our peoples will ever succeed" The letter attributed the historic referendum loss to a lack of …

Missed opportunity: The Hindu Editorial on the Australia referendum on giving voice to Indigenous peoples
1 year, 5 months ago

Missed opportunity: The Hindu Editorial on the Australia referendum on giving voice to Indigenous peoples

The Hindu  

In the recent Australia referendum on the Voice, a proposed body comprising members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people to advise the country’s Parliament on laws impacting this vulnerable group, voters dropped the plan by a resounding 60% margin, rejecting an opportunity to amend their constitution for the first time in almost 50 years towards a more inclusive …

Australia’s Indigenous leaders call for week of ‘silence and reflection’ after referendum defeat
1 year, 5 months ago

Australia’s Indigenous leaders call for week of ‘silence and reflection’ after referendum defeat

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Australia’s Indigenous leaders have called …

Indigenous Voice: Has Australia missed its opportunity to move on from racist past?
1 year, 5 months ago

Indigenous Voice: Has Australia missed its opportunity to move on from racist past?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Australians are being asked to alter the country’s founding …

Final arguments are being made before Australia’s vote Saturday to create Indigenous Voice
1 year, 5 months ago

Final arguments are being made before Australia’s vote Saturday to create Indigenous Voice

Associated Press  

CANBERRA, Australia — Opposing campaigners made their final pitches on Friday over changing the Australia’s constitution to acknowledge a place for Indigenous Australians on the eve of the nation’s first referendum in a generation. “He’s instinctively won their hearts because Australians do want better outcomes for Indigenous Australians, but he hasn’t won their minds,” Dutton told Australian Broadcasting Corp. Indigenous …

Australia Set to Hold Indigenous Rights Referendum on Oct 14
1 year, 6 months ago

Australia Set to Hold Indigenous Rights Referendum on Oct 14

News 18  

Australia will hold a historic Indigenous rights referendum on October 14, the prime minister said Wednesday, setting up a defining moment for the nation’s relationship with Aboriginal minorities. The “yes” campaign is currently trailing in the polls, sparking fears a failed referendum could tarnish Australia’s global reputation and squander a rare chance to reduce pervasive inequality. “Australians have recognised it’s …

Australia sets wording of Indigenous Voice referendum
2 years ago

Australia sets wording of Indigenous Voice referendum

Associated Press  

CANBERRA, Australia — The Australian government on Thursday released the wording of a referendum question that promises the nation’s Indigenous population a greater say on policies that affect their lives. Australians are expected to vote sometime between October and December on a constitutional amendment that would enshrine a new body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. The question …

What are Australia’s plans for Indigenous Voice?
2 years ago

What are Australia’s plans for Indigenous Voice?

Associated Press  

CANBERRA, Australia — Australians expect to vote this year in a referendum that would enshrine in the nation’s constitution a mechanism for Indigenous people to advise Parliament on policies that effect their lives known as the Voice. Proponents say embedding the Voice in the constitution would recognize the special place that Indigenous people have in Australian history while giving them …

Australia unveils referendum question on Indigenous recognition
2 years ago

Australia unveils referendum question on Indigenous recognition

Al Jazeera  

Australia’s 122-year-old constitution has never acknowledged the Indigenous population as the country’s original inhabitants. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has outlined details of a proposed referendum to be held later this year aimed at giving recognition in the constitution to the nation’s Indigenous people. The referendum – to be held between October and December – will seek to enshrine in …

Noel Pearson is hopeful for Indigenous recognition through a Voice to Parliament in Boyers lecture
2 years, 4 months ago

Noel Pearson is hopeful for Indigenous recognition through a Voice to Parliament in Boyers lecture

ABC  

We are on the last leg of a long journey. We are encamped on the hinterlands of the great capitals of the Federation: Hobart, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and the nation's capital: Canberra, seeking for a majority of these states, in their own right and by a majority of the total of Australian electors, to approve an amendment to …

Australia moves to give Indigenous people a voice to parliament
2 years, 5 months ago

Australia moves to give Indigenous people a voice to parliament

Al Jazeera  

A referendum is expected to be held as early as July 2023, but campaigners say more needs to be done to tackle inequality and injustice. Termed a “Voice to Parliament”, a “yes” vote in the referendum would constitutionally enshrine an advisory group to government made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders. “A Voice to Parliament is about drawing …

Constitution should recognise Indigenous people as first Australians, says Noel Pearson
2 years, 7 months ago

Constitution should recognise Indigenous people as first Australians, says Noel Pearson

ABC  

The Albanese government's proposal to enshrine an Indigenous advisory body in the constitution should include words that formally recognise Indigenous people as Australia's first inhabitants, advocate Noel Pearson says. Key points: Noel Pearson says the constitution should include words that recognise Indigenous people as the first peoples of Australia He says a Voice to Parliament would be both symbolic and …

7.30: Calls for recognition of Indigenous Australians
3 years ago

7.30: Calls for recognition of Indigenous Australians

ABC  

Visuals from the outback DEBRA CORNWALL Aboriginal Australians were all but invisible in the '60s, most of them fringe dwellers forbidden to travel, paid in meat instead of dollars. Applause DEBRA CORNWALL It was in this climate, Faith Bandler, a daughter of a South Sea Islander slave, began pressing a simple proposition for equal citizenship rights — a decade-long campaign …

There's bipartisan support for constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians but how can it be delivered?
5 years, 8 months ago

There's bipartisan support for constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians but how can it be delivered?

ABC  

Vocal members of the Coalition have raced to talk down the idea of the constitution guaranteeing Indigenous Australians a say over their own affairs, as envisioned in the "voice to parliament" proposal. Delegates surprised some within the government when they strongly supported the "voice to parliament" concept — including an Indigenous advisory body in the constitution to comment on policies …

Garma: In 2017, the struggle for Indigenous Australians to be seen and heard continues, Stan Grant writes
7 years, 7 months ago

Garma: In 2017, the struggle for Indigenous Australians to be seen and heard continues, Stan Grant writes

ABC  

The plane banks right, below me is the Gove Peninsula. This has been a monumental year — a year of anniversaries: 25 years since the Mabo High Court decision — among the most significant in our nation's history; 20 years since the Bringing Them Home report revealed the trauma of the stolen generations and led eventually, to former prime minister …

Constitutional recognition still open for discussion, Aboriginal leader Pat Dodson says
7 years, 9 months ago

Constitutional recognition still open for discussion, Aboriginal leader Pat Dodson says

ABC  

Aboriginal leader and federal Labor frontbencher Pat Dodson has cautioned the Government not to "abandon" the work it has already done on constitutional recognition after yesterday's Uluru statement. Key points: Dodson says finer print in Uluru statement suggests constitutional recognition still on the table Says indigenous people pushing for new representative body because they want more control over their lives …

PM's stance on Indigenous recognition to be challenged by WA Liberals
9 years, 7 months ago

PM's stance on Indigenous recognition to be challenged by WA Liberals

ABC  

Prime Minister Tony Abbott's support for Indigenous constitutional recognition will be challenged by West Australian Liberals at the party's state conference in a fortnight. "I don't think the Australian people will support it however they dish it up to us and however much of our money they spend trying to jam it down our throats," Mr Hassell said. I don't …

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