Abbott told to act now on indigenous rights

THE commissioner for social justice has demanded constitutional reform to acknowledge indigenous people in this term of parliament.

Mick Gooda said the government must ensure the campaign to raise popular awareness and support of this issue is properly reso...

THE Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner has demanded constitutional reform to acknowledge indigenous people within this term of parliament.

Mick Gooda called on the Abbott government to commit to a referendum by treating the development of the question and date as a matter of urgency.

In the 2013 Social Justice and Native Title Report tabled in parliament, Mr Gooda said the government should reconstitute the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as soon as possible to ensure progress to a referendum can continue with limited interruption.

He also said the government must ensure the campaign to raise popular awareness and support of this issue is properly resourced.

If constitutional amendments proposed are different to those recommended in the Expert Report, he said the Australian government must consult with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples before going to referendum.

The expert panel Labor set up as part of the referendum process recommended the Constitution be altered to remove racist sections and to create a power for the "advancement" of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders and the protection of their language and culture. It also called for a clause against racial discrimination.

Mr Gooda demanded the new government continue the multi-party approach in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs and that change to existing policies and programs be based on rigorous evidence and occurs in consultation with communities.

He called for the government to engage with the National Implementation Strategy to give effect to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

He wants the government to amend the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 (Cth) to include the UN declaration in the definition of human rights.

Mr Gooda has asked the new government to engage with the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples - the peak body representing indigenous people - in accordance with the principles and protocols set out by the previous government.

He also asked for the Australian government to invite the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples to participate in relevant COAG processes.

He wants the Australian government to commit to the Closing the Gap agenda and the annual Closing the Gap Reporting to Parliament.

He also wants the Abbott government to negotiate through COAG a new National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes, with a minimum Commonwealth investment of $777 million over the next three years - the amount promised by Labor.

He requested that the Abbott government finalises targets focused on increasing community safety, reducing imprisonment rates and improving outcomes in child protection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.