CANBERRA (London Post with AAP) By Dr. Majid Khan-A proposal to amend the text of the Australian Constitution to respect the voices of indigenous peoples is before Parliament.
Attorney General Mark Dreyfuss introduced the law on Thursday, setting the stage for a referendum later this year.
Parliament last week finalized rules for referendum information and distribution of political contributions, modernizing the law last used in the republic for voting in 1999.
Mr Dreyfus said the legislation would give Australians the power to amend their constitution to allow Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders and give them a say in parliament.
“All members of the Australian Parliament, including all members of the Crossbench and all members of the Liberal Party, want and are very confident there will be support for this referendum,” he said Wednesday. told reporters. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with members of the government’s Referendum Working Group, unveiled the proposed words to the Australian public last week.
The suggested questions are:
“Legislative Proposal:
Amending the Constitution to recognize Australia’s first peoples by creating a voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Do you agree with this proposed change? ”
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has yet to say whether the Liberals will support the vote.
Since the proposed language was published, Mr. Dutton has asked the government to publish the Attorney General’s advice for determining whether Boyce will provide an opinion to the executive branch.
Albanese said the language was backed by leading constitutional experts, including former High Court Chief Justice Robert French and academic Anne Toomey.
