Recognise committee split on best way forward

A parliamentary committee is unresolved on a new push to recognise indigenous Australians in the Constitution.

Recognise campaign director Tanya Hosch. Picture: Kelly Barnes

As the country prepares to mark 48 years since the historic referendum on Aboriginal rights, a parliamentary committee is unresolved on a new push to recognise indigenous Australians in the Constitution.

Tony Abbott has raised hopes that the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum could mark another seminal moment for indigenous Australia, but six weeks out from the next crucial step — the final report from a parliamentary inquiry — uncertainty clouds the way forward to a 2017 vote.

Amid division among committee members about how to deal with an alternative proposal for recognition from Cape York ­leader Noel Pearson, Recognise campaign director Tanya Hosch warned the process was at risk of “drift”.

She said a vacuum of political leadership and the “pause” in ­momentum following the Pearson proposal risked derailing ­momentum towards a successful yes vote.

She is calling for the Prime Minister to meet indigenous leaders to resolve the impasse.

“We can’t afford these long pauses, we need sustained ­momentum towards a model and then a referendum,” she told The Weekend Australian. “We need action from the political leaders and focus from everyone right now to reach … agreement.

“ There’s not a moment to lose. We can’t afford for this to drift.”

The Weekend Australian understands some members of the multi-party committee want the final report to find some way to accommodate the proposal put forward by Mr Pearson for a ­declaration of recognition and a new “body” to consult on government legislation.

They say the proposal has merit, and fear that rejecting it outright risks a destabilising backlash from conservatives and prominent indigenous leaders.

Mr Pearson’s proposal for a symbolic declaration would be complemented with fewer changes to the country’s founding document to maintain the support of conservatives.

But other members of the committee say Mr Pearson’s proposal is unworkable, warning it creates an “indigenous House of Lords” that would not be accepted by the parliament or public.

Committee chairman Ken Wyatt has also indicated he does not believe the Pearson proposal has widespread support.

The inclusion of a racial non-discrimination clause — section 116a — is also causing difference of opinion among committee members. The Weekend Australian understands it will be supported in the final report, despite Mr Wyatt having said the clause was “problematic” and was opposed by state attorneys-general.

Even if the committee resolves these two issues within the next six weeks and comes to a consensus position, there remains uncertainty about how the government will formally respond.

It is unclear if Mr Abbott prefers the Pearson model over the recommendations of the expert panel, but he has described it as an “important contribution”.

Ms Hosch said those issues needed to be resolved urgently.

“We can’t get this done without collaboration,” she said.