Sydney, March 23 (BNA): Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed the question the government wants to put in a referendum on whether Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders will be recognized in the country’s constitution.
“If not now, then when?”
“For many… this moment was a very long time in the making,” Albanese said. “And yet they’ve shown such patience and optimism through this process, and that spirit of cooperation and thoughtful dialogue and respect has been so important in getting to this point in such a unified way.”
Australia is seeking to give more recognition to its indigenous people, who have inhabited the continent for 60,000 years but are not mentioned in the 122-year-old constitution, according to Reuters.
Indigenous people make up about 3.2% of Australia’s 26 million people, track below national averages on most socioeconomic measures and suffer disproportionately high rates of suicide and imprisonment.
Albanians urged Australians, who will be required to vote between October and December, to amend the constitution to create an advisory committee in Parliament called Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
It will provide non-binding advice to Parliament on matters affecting First Nations people.
The government will present the bill next week, hoping to pass it in parliament by the end of June. Any constitutional amendments require a national referendum.
MI