What is your party’s position on constitutional recognition of, or a treaty with, Indigenous Australians?
We do not support altering the Constitution.
The Morrison Government remains committed to recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in the Constitution.
Recognition would acknowledge our shared history and the value we place on our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.
The Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition’s final report notes further work is required to clarify what a voice is and how it could best suit the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
The Greens acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. We must negotiate treaties with First Nations peoples now and strongly support funding First Nations peoples’ organisations to establish a path towards treaties. We note that there was strong support for pursuing a treaty or treaties at the First Nations Regional Dialogues held by the Referendum Council in 2016 and 2017.
We also support the establishment of a body which would have the function of enabling agreement making between governments and First Nations peoples. The body would facilitate a process of local and regional justice and truth telling. This could be in the form of the Makarrata Commission outlined in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The Greens strongly support the establishment of a Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution.
In 2017, following 12 Regional Dialogues, 250 First Nations people came together at Uluru and called for a Voice for First Nations peoples, to be enshrined in the constitution. Having asked First Nations peoples what their priority was for constitutional reform, Labor believes it is intent upon the government to do what we can to make that a reality.
Labor supports a Voice for First Nations peoples, and we support it being in the Constitution. If elected, Labor will immediately begin working with First Nations peoples on a concrete process and timeline for achieving this important goal.
Unfortunately, following Uluru, the Liberal Government summarily rejected the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and rejected the call for a Voice to Parliament for First Nations peoples. Labor continue to call on the Morrison Government to reverse its position.
The Uluru Statement from the heart also called for the establishment of a Makarratte Commission, to oversee a process of truth-telling and agreement making, including a Treaty. Unlike the Liberals, Labor is not afraid to have a conversation about how we achieve a lasting settlement with First Nations peoples, including a Treaty.
