Communiqué 16-17 March 2011
National consultations to listen to, discuss and gather the views of the Australian people on the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution will begin next month, to help inform the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians.
Individuals and organisations across Australia are being encouraged to participate in the consultations to contribute to the Panel's report to the Government on possible options for the constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and changes that are most likely to have strong community support.
The Panel, which met in Melbourne over two days, is made up of Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders from urban, regional and remote areas and includes community and business leaders, academics and members of parliament from across the political spectrum.
To help the consultation process, a website is being established. It will include a discussion paper, outlining frequently raised constitutional issues relating to Indigenous recognition. The discussion paper will be the starting point for community discussion on the most appropriate way to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution.
The website, due to be launched next month, will also provide news, information and connections with social media. Individuals and organisations will also be able to make submissions to the Expert Panel online.
After conducting the national consultations, the Panel will report to the Australian Government in December this year.
For more information on Indigenous Constitutional Recognition visit FaHCSIA website
For more information concerning this communiqué email constitutional.recognition@fahcsia.gov.au or freecall: 1800 836 422