The report examining options to recognise indigenous people in the constitution lays out an important project of modernisation, says professor Jon Altman of ANU’s Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research.
Australian constitution
Dudgeon: constitution helps undo silence harming Aboriginal Australia
The causes for distress in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities leading to youth suicide are broad and steeped in historical, social and economic circumstances, as well as the contemporary choices of individuals, writes professor Pat Dudgeon, one of the “founding” people in indigenous psychology.
Constitutional change unlikely, as usual
It’s more than 12 years since the last attempt to amend Australia’s constitution, the ill-fated republic referendum of 1999.
Come in Spinner: Yes, and no, the answer to many questions
The concept that many major questions need a yes and no answer can hardly survive in an environment in which three word slogans and invented narrarive are substituted for reasoned discussion and analysis.
Crikey clarifier: how to recognise indigenous people in the constitution
Prime Minister Julia Gillard sparked a debate yesterday when she annouced that the federal government will seek to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the constitution. So far, there has been bipartisan support for a referendum on the issue, but will that support filter down to a community?
Territory set to sail uncharted constitutional waters
The upheaval in the Northern Territory government could result in the first constitutional test of Australia’s move to fixed-term Parliaments, says the ABC’s resident wonk Antony Green. Will the NT ALP sit it out until 2012, or play some tricky numbers games to wrangle an early election?
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Apology to Christopher Murphy … The 2020 summit … China, foreign ownership and Aussie assets … saying sorry .. Qantas woes … Paddy McGuinness … borrowing money …
That was the week that was…
The week in one liners and First Dog On The Moon explores Kevin Rudd’s language abilities.
Suddenly, plebiscites are all the rage
Suddenly, plebiscites are all the rage. From deciding on whether a nuclear power facility is to be located in your neighbourhood to the desirability of local government amalgamations, politicians appear to be suddenly encouraging the vox populi. Or are they? writes Norman Abjorensen.
