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What is the Constitutional Recognition for Indigenous Australians?

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What is the Constitutional Recognition for Indigenous Australians?

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The constitutional recognition is the move towards recognizing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia's Constitution.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are not mentioned in the constitution. The constitution still allows racial discrimination- not just against Indigenous people but against anyone. The law of any state, states that all persons of any race can be disqualified from voting at elections for the more numerous House of Parliament of the state. The Parliament shall, subject to this constitution

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are still not recognized in the Australian Constitution as Australia's first people. Most people would be surprised and shocked to know that the constitution allows racial discrimination.

The U.S, Canada and New Zealand have all moved to recognize Indigenous people in their respective constitutions, but Australia is still struggling; politicians are adamant to go beyond symbolic gestures, and many indigenous people want a treaty instead.

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Recognition is defined as the act of identifying someone or something because of previous knowledge.
The act of recognizing: The state of being recognized, such as acknowledgment, especially formal acknowledgment of the political existence of a government or nation

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Indigenous Australians are descended from the people who lived in Australia and the surroundings islands prior to European colonization. Generally speaking, there are two distinct groups of Indigenous people in Australia, Torres Strait Islander people and Aboriginal people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders throughout Australia have different thoughts, ideas and beliefs.

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Why is it important for Indigenous people to be recognized?

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Why is it important for Indigenous people to be recognized?

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As the first people of Australia, the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are essential to our distinctive character as a nation.

Research in indigenous studies must recognize the diversity of indigenous people, including their different languages, cultures, histories and perspectives.

It is also important to recognize the diversity of individuals and groups within communities

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The Declaration on the rights of Indigenous people affirms the minimum standards for the survival, dignity, security and well-being of Indigenous people worldwide and enshrines Indigenous people's rights to be different.

In June 2007 the federal government staged a massive intervention in the Northern Territory to "Protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children" from sexual abuse.
Without constitution Indigenous peoples' lives were heavily regulated, and many felt ashamed and angry.

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Indigenous Australians account for 3% of Australia's population.
People's nationality in Australia-
English (36.1%)                                             Chinese(4.3%)
Australian(35.4%)                                         Indigenous Australians(3.0%)
Irish(10.4%)                                                   Indian(2.1%)
Scottish(8.9%)                                              Greek(1.9%)
Italian(4.6%)                                                  Dutch(1.4%)
German(4.5%)                                               Filipino(0.99%)

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Where do Indigenous people live in Australia?

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Where do Indigenous people live in Australia?

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More than 66% of Indigenous people live in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria while Western Australia and the Northern Territory contribute only 24% of the Indigenous population.

The population is the lowest in South Australia (5.6%) and Tasmania (3.6%). The Australian Capital Territory is home to only 0.9% of Australia’s Indigenous people.

The Northern Territory has the largest proportion of its population who are Indigenous (30%), compared with 4.7% or less for all other states and the Australian Capital Territory.

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Racial discrimination is when a person is treated less favorably than another person in a similar situation because of their race, colour, descent, country they were born in, national or ethnic origin or immigrant status.

Discrimination is a subtle sword Australians use, not only against Indigenous people but against anyone. Many experience discrimination for their skin colour or heritage.

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Discrimination against people based on their race, religion, culture, health, age or disability is generally frowned upon.

Indigenous Australians told us that racial discrimination
"makes me feel like i'm lower than everyone else, an intruder who is not part of this society" - Jasmine, 24
"It offends me, angers me, frustrates me but most of all it saddens me" -Joshua, 27
"Just being born Indigenous makes you feel second class" - Greg, 35

A survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria found that 97% had experienced racism within the year. Two out of every three people had experienced eight or more incidences a year. Imagine the impact on you, your family and your community.

Almost one third of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience high or very high levels of psychological distress- nearly three times the rate for non-Indigenous Australians.

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Why does the law need to change about recognition?

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Why does the law need to change about recognition?

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The constitution needs to be changed to remove references to race to ensure that equal rights and respect are given to all Australians in law, and to bring our national constitution into line with the values and aspirations of a contemporary Australian society.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have consistently fought to have their rights recognized and acknowledge by the Australian Government and the Australian people. Through out Australia's history, many Australian have supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in these struggles. It is upon this historical foundation that Australians are now realizing the need for constitutional change to address the lack of recognition and exclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our nation's constitution.

Change allows the government to make "special laws" for people of any race "for the peace, order and good government" of a nation. Changes to the "race power" could go further, stating laws should be for the "advancement" of Indigenous people, or to "overcome disadvantages" or "ameliorate the affects of past discrimination.

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Who will be the key people that will be affected if the constitution of recognition is changed?

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Who will be the key people that will be affected if the constitution of recognition is changed?

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Indigenous people will be the main people affected, but also the rest of Australia. Our country will be a better nation.

Labor frontbencher Linda Burney says" The most important thing is a meaningful change for everyone in Australia.

Shirley Peisley from South Australia said "A lot of Indigenous people have missed out because they were excluded- they weren't included- in some parts of our history. How can you feel like a citizen if you are not written up in the constitution as being here"

Tara from New South Wales said" I feel like it's the first step to real social change in Australia, we already had a referendum in '67' which did a lot of good, but i think it's time again and i think that Australia is in a place now where we're ready to accept the fact that there have been past wrongs and this is a really good way to step forward into reconciliation."

Willie Babia from the Torres Strait said" I plea with the community of Australia to vote yes in the referendum, simply because it is our right and our recognition as the custodians of the Torres Strait. In particular the island of Mabuiag, which we have proven we have lived here for 7000 years. vote yes and support us."

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What will happen when the constitution is changed?

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What will happen when the constitution is changed?

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The recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our constitution would tell the whole story of our shared history. It would celebrate the continuing first cultures, languages and connections to our country that make Australia unique. That achievement can inspire every Australian today and is something we can all be proud of.

The recognition of Indigenous people will ensure equal rights and respect to all Australians, and to bring our national constitution into line with the values and aspirations of contemporary Australian society.

The first change should hold the most promise to achieve the type of substantive equality and progress many people  thought they were voting for.

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Recognition is just another way for Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make Australians feel guilty about something we didn't do. They should just accept what happened and move on with it, not drag it out. The Indigenous people already have so many special advantages that us white people don't. If we continue to give them pity, they will eventually take control over everything. They should be happy with what they have and get over the past.

Yours Sincerely,
Racist White Man

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Dear Racist White Man,
I strongly disagree with your statement, i disagree because British man Captain James Hook thought there was only one race on the earth and that was the white race. When Captain James Cook first set foot on Wangal land, he said oh lets put a flag up somewhere, because these people are unable to read or write, they’ve got no fences. They didn’t understand that we didn’t need fences to claim land.

Once our land was taken, we were refused our basic rights, we were killed and dehumanized, we were not allowed to speak our language and our children were stolen. We do not ask much but to allow our future generations to learn our culture.

Reconciliation is a good step to teaching the future generations about our culture, but also to teach white uneducated people our culture. Reconciliation is also white Australians admitting that they unfairly stole our land, we have so many "Special advantages" because White people feel sorry of what happend in the past.

When you said "They should be happy with what they have and get over the past" I Strongly disagree, because history allows people to learn from past mistakes that our ancestors made, so that we do not do the same things they did and make Australia become a better place.

My personal view on recognition is that Indigenous people and White people should be equal under the law. I believe that all people are the same and no one is above or below the law, i also believe that a person will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character. Throughout Australia's history, many Australians have supported these struggles. It is upon this historical foundation that Australians are now realizing the need for constitutional change to address the lack of recognition and exclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our nation's constitution.

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In conclusion, the U.S, Canada and New Zealand have all moved to recognize Indigenous people in their respective constitutions, but Australia is still struggling; politicians are adamant to go beyond symbolic gestures, and many Indigenous people want a treaty instead.

Because Australia does not mention Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their constitution, the constitution still allow racial discrimination - not just against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but against anyone.

As the first peoples of Australia, the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are essential to our distinctive character as a nation. Research in Indigenous studies must recognize the diversity of Indigenous peoples, including their different languages, cultures, histories and perspectives.

Australia is the only country with a constitution that allows discrimination against its indigenous peoples based on their race. The Constitution needs to be changed to remove references to race to ensure that equal rights and respect are given to all Australians in law.

If the constitution was changed there would be a massive affect on Indigenous people and the rest of Australia. Our country will be a better nation.The recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Islander peoples in our constitution would tell the whole story of our shared history. It would celebrate the continuing first cultures, languages and connections to country that make Australia unique.

" I plea with the community of Australia to vote yes in the referendum, simply because it is our right and our recognition as the custodians of the Torres Strait. Vote yes and support us" - Willie Babia

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Written By: Brodie O'Breza