Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I, too, rise to speak to the tabling of the progress report of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. As a member of the committee I would like to commend the deputy chair for her work, and particularly the chair, as they have been quite diligent in consulting widely right around Australia, often on the committee's behalf. It has been fabulous. I would like to thank the co-members of our committee, who have been a real pleasure to work with. I hope the spirit in which all parties and senators and members have approached the very hard work of this particular committee and report, and in getting everybody's finger on the page, is symbolic of the greater task before all of us as we head out into our communities and beyond to engage, initiate, drive and facilitate the conversation in our community so that Australians are fully informed as they head towards a referendum.

There is going to be difficulty—historical and cultural difficulty—for Australia in achieving constitutional change. And there is a need to ensure that any change is overwhelmingly supported by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I think the broader Australian community needs to see that in order to be able to fully engage with the conversation.

I am really proud of recommendation one. It says what should be done and it should be at the heart of any discussion and debate on changes to our founding document. Recommendation one states:

The committee recommends that each House of Parliament set aside a full day of sittings to debate concurrently recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as set out in this report with a view to achieving near-unanimous parliamentary support for and building momentum towards a referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution.

I think that is going to be a fascinating debate—to have all Australian people, through the lower house, and all states, through the Senate, discussing and debating the options that our committee has set out for ways that we may achieve constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. I think this is the appropriate way to approach the issue. So I would like to thank our co-members and the chair, particularly, for his leadership. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

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