A lack of acknowledgement can have serious effects on people's health, as the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists has found: 'The lack of recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional owners of the land and waters of Australia in the Constitution impacts on identity and sense of belonging within the communities, perpetuating discrimination and eroding mental health and social and emotional wellbeing.' Īboriginal film-maker Rachel Perkins believes that constitutional recognition could 'lift the historical burden that sits like a heavy skin across our nation', causing resentment among Aboriginal people. In each of these ways, the constitution affects Aboriginal people and their place within the community. The rules determine who can do what and to whom establish relationships between, people and institutions and recognise national values and goals.

More specifically, the constitution is a 'rule book' for the country. It has a long-term, profound effect on Australian politics and laws. The constitution might not seem to matter much in our daily lives, but it is always there: it informs the work of parliaments, governments and courts. Why is constitutional recognition important? The preamble is not part of the constitution, and any change to it would have no legal consequences.Īlternatively, inserting a statement of Aboriginal recognition into the constitution itself, would be interpreted by the courts, with the potential for outcomes at odds with today's understandings of the statement's purpose. There is a big difference if Aboriginal people are recognised in the preamble or the body of the constitution. But in June 2015 another survey by IndigenousX, a social media platform across Twitter and Facebook, found that only 25% of Aboriginal people supported the Recognise campaign, 58% opposed. But Aboriginal people are not so sure.Ī survey released in May 2015 by the government-funded Recognise group found that that 87% of Aboriginal people would vote “yes” to be recognised within the Australian Constitution. ĩ0% of surveyed Australians want Aboriginal people officially recognised. “Constitutionally speaking we are still basically White Australia, however much we boast that we have changed,” adds former High Court Justice Michael Kirby. 'It is one of the few constitutions in the world today with negative race powers allowing government to make laws and policy that pointedly trample the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.'

'A glance at the constitution reveals the deep stain of racism and discrimination,' says reputable journalist Jeff McMullen. Norway’s constitution recognises the country as bi-cultural. The United States Government has more than 350 treaties with Native Americans. Worldwide, the US, Canada and New Zealand have all moved to recognise Aboriginal people in their respective constitutions.

Victoria 2 national value