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ANTaR welcomes Minister Macklin's promise of constitutional reform
“Constitutional reform remains a critical part of the unfinished business of reconciliation,” said Dr Janet Hunt, ANTaR President.
The minister announced that a re-elected Gillard Labor Government would establish a bipartisan Expert Panel, including Indigenous leaders, to consult with Indigenous people on options for constitutional reform.
The announcement responds to the first recommendation of a document ANTaR recently released, challenging the major parties to set an agenda based on justice, rights and reconciliation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Download that document here or read more about the Minister's announcement here.
New laws to take native title claims out of courts
The Victorian Government has introduced legislation into Parliament that could take native title resolution out of the Federal Court.
The framework would allow Indigenous groups to settle with the Government out of court, if they drop current native title claims and agree not to lodge future claims.
The Co-chairman of Victorian Traditional Owner Justice Group Graham Atkinson says it will result in better economic development opportunities in Indigenous communities. "This is a groundbreaking reform for traditional owners in Victoria. It does allow groups to work in an agreement-making context rather than litigation," he said.
Read More at ABC Online
Young voters desert Lingiari electoral roll
The electorate with the highest percentage of Indigenous people in Australia has seen a plunge in the number of young people enrolled.
But Australian Electoral Commission figures show the number of 18- and 19-year-olds enrolled to vote in Lingiari has dropped by a third since the last election.There has also been a drop in the number of 20- to 24-year-olds enrolled.
The NIT reports that the drop in enrollments may be due to the Northern Territory Intervention.
Read more at ABC Online or read the related story at
National Indigenous Times Online.
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page is updated regularly by ANTaR Volunteers.
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