THE question of recognition of Indigenous Australians in the Constitution has had a fair airing this week. And that should tell us a few things.
It is 48 years since the 1967 referendum. That referendum removed Section 127 which said: “In reckoning the numbers of the people of the Commonwealth, or of a State or other part of the Commonwealth, aboriginal natives shall not be counted.” It also removed the words “other than the aboriginal race in any State” from Section 51 of the Constitution which sets out the Commonwealth Parliament’s power, one of which was to make laws with respect to “The people of any race, other than the aboriginal race in any State, for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws.” Continue reading “Complete the job on Indigenous recognition”