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| Reconciliation, Social Justice, the Constitution and a Treaty Reconciliation
Reconciliation was originally identified as a key national objective for the centenary of Federation in 2001, with the aim of achieving a formal statement of reconciliation by then. On 27 May 2000 the Council presented a Declaration for Reconciliation and proposals for future action to the Governor General, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries at Corroboree 2000. On 29 May an estimated 250,000 people marched across Sydney Harbour Bridge to show their support for reconciliation. The Reconciliation Councils mandate expires at the end of this year and its future is unclear. Some Aboriginal people think that the main emphasis should now be on a treaty; others believe that focus on a treaty is premature. Social justice Social justice is about indigenous peoples having:
Constitutional amendment and a treaty Indigenous people want their status and rights defined and recognised in a lasting way which will not allow State or Federal Governments to backtrack on them. Two possible ways of doing this are:
At present, there is no acknowledgement in the Constitution of the special status and rights of indigenous people. If Australia decided to become a Republic, the Constitution would have to be amended, and this would offer the opportunity for change in other areas. The idea of a treaty was supported in principle by Prime Minister Bob Hawke in 1989, but is opposed by the present Government under John Howard.. It has been suggested that a treaty might include Aboriginal representation in Parliament, reparation and compensation for cultural dispossession, appropriate use of indigenous customary law and an independent economic base.
Further reading and links:
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