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key indigenous australian issues
| home | news lIndigenous leaders call for constitutional recognition8 June 2008 - Aboriginal leaders at the Barunga Festival in the Northern Territory have urged the Federal Government to have Indigenous people recognised in the constitution. During the 1988 Barunga Festival, former prime minister Bob Hawke promised there would be a treaty between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within two years. Twenty years on, Indigenous leaders say there is still a need for a treaty. Indigenous advocate Pat Dodson says the rights of Indigenous people needs to be strengthened in the constitution, a position supported by Northern Land Council chairman Wally Wangamurra. Mr Dodson says in the 20 years since the promise and the signing of the statement calling for greater respect for Aboriginal identity, more could have been done to improve the grassroots issues of poor education, housing and health. Mr Dodson says a discussion is needed now on how Indigenous rights could be secured in the constitution. "The preamble is not the only place where that ought to be done, there ought to be a serious look at the race power which was achieved some time ago in 1967," he said. "[We need to] have a look at how effective that power is and if it's sufficient, then what else do we need to do to recognise Indigenous peoples' rights." The head of the Northern Territory Statehood Steering Committee says the Territory could lead the way in greater recognition of Aboriginal rights if it was to become Australia's seventh state. Speaking at the Barunga Festival, committee chairwoman Malarndirri McCarthy says Indigenous leaders in the Northern Territory should be urging their communities to start discussing what they want in a new constitution. "The people of the Northern Territory can really lead the way in terms of all Australians. Here we are, a group of people who can be black and white, men and women, come together to enshrine those rights within a constitution of the Northern Territory." The cultural festival continues today with sporting events and the battle of the bands, which has lured entries from communities throughout the territory. Organisers estimate about 3,000 people were at the festival. Source: ABC
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its one year on from the Australian Governments controversial intervention into NT Indigenous communities
action Roll back, listen to Indigenous community voices speaking about the intervention |
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