Hon.

Cassy OConnor MP Minister for Aboriginal Affairs to move:

That this House: 1. Commends the important and thorough work of the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians, and their report to the Prime Minister delivered late last year;

2. Supports the recommendations in the report for a national Referendum to allow for Australias Constitution to fully and respectfully protect each and every Australian Citizen by:

a. Repealing s 25. Provisions as to races disqualified from voting so that no State may have the power to disallow a member of a specific race of peoples from being counted in their democratic right to vote; and

b. Repealing s 51(xxvi). Legislative powers of the Parliament which states the Parliament shall have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to the people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws; and

c. Inserting a new section 51A to allow for First Australians to be fully and completely recognised and protected under the Constitution, acknowledging the abiding relationship between the First Australians and their traditional lands and waters, and continuing to respect the culture, language and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

d. Support other recommendations made that seek to protect indigenous Australians from discrimination and formally recognise Australias original languages.

3. Calls on all Honourable Members, irrespective of their party beliefs, to work cooperatively in support of the recommendation that the Federal Government liaise with all parties and independents in each State and Territory to seek consensus on the timing and content of a national referendum;

4. Encourages the positiveness and importance of a successful referendum on this issue to the Tasmanian public; and

5. Refutes all claims that the recommendations should not be carried out on the basis they are unnecessary, costly, or impracticable, and reiterate how the current provisions as they stand undermine the strength of our Constitution, our democracy as well as our respect for the first people of Australia.