Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I can confirm that, Senator McKim—and it's not just the government's view; it's also the view of the constitutional expert group, who I would suggest, are far more eminent constitutional scholars than any of us, and all members of the expert group agreed that the draft provision that we are debating here would not affect the sovereignty of any group or body, including of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As I'm sure you know, Senator McKim, that group includes First Nations and constitutional law experts like Professor Asmi Wood, Professor Megan Davis, a former High Court judge and many other eminent lawyers and constitutional law specialists.