Nova Peris (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, I present a progress report, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee.

Ordered that the reports be printed.

I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

The chair of the committee, Mr Ken Wyatt, and the shadow minister for Indigenous affairs, Shayne Neumann, spoke yesterday in the House of Representatives to outline and discuss the progress report. I too will emphasise what the report and progress is about. It should be noted that there has been a long journey and process leading up to the tabling of this progress report. It is another big step forward. We should realise that the real journey has only just begun.

The campaign to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our Constitution is an important one, not just for the first people but for all Australians. Ultimately, this is an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate, to unite and to add more than 40,000 years to our nation's history. It is about being inclusive, not exclusive, and it is something we should all get behind. This report clearly states that we must do all we can to ensure the campaign and message is clearly delivered to all Australians. It is imperative that we are all behind the journey towards constitutional recognition.

Only 47 years ago, less than a lifetime, back in 1967, the Australian government ran a referendum to change the Constitution to give Aboriginal people the right to vote. We can all take heart that this referendum was overwhelmingly endorsed by Australians, winning 90.77 per cent of votes and carrying in all six states. We need to rebuild that momentum from 1967. We need to inspire, engage with and reach out to all Australians on what we are trying to achieve. We need to right a wrong, and that will only be realised with the support of all Australians.

The report contains three options for recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution. I am very pleased to say that all three options deal with issues of discrimination. This is a win for common sense. It is a win for all Australians, not just Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

A few months ago when I tabled the interim report I stated in this house that I had grave concerns with the path to constitutional recognition when the government had plans to weaken the provisions to the Racial Discrimination Act. With those plans now scrapped, I believe the pathway towards achieving recognition is one step closer. This has been reinforced by three key recommendations of the report, which all recommend removing references to race.

As an Aboriginal woman, this constitutional change is incredibly important to me and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. I say to you that I will never tire in my pursuit to do all that I can to ensure that the voices of Aboriginal Australians are heard. We must now ensure that we put every effort into encouraging all Australians to be part of this process and to vote 'yes' for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

In my role as an Aboriginal member of this parliament, I am honoured to be in a position to advocate for recognition on behalf of all Aboriginal people and the Australian Labor Party. I reiterate that Australia does not lose 226 years of history; it gains 40,000 years of history.

The committee is now calling for submissions on steps towards a successful referendum, including the wording of a proposal, and on mechanisms to build community engagement. This committee will hold more public hearings around Australia in the months ahead. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted.