On Wednesday March 26 over 120 people took up the invitation from the Women’s Reconciliation Network (WRN), ANTaR Inner West, and Marrickville Residents for Reconciliation to “explore perspectives” and participate in discussions around the proposal that the Australian Constitution should be altered to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
After a musical item from Jacinta Tobin, Darug singer and storyteller, Patricia Blackman, Elder and member of the Ashfield Aboriginal Consultative Committee, performed the Welcome to Country and Mayor Lucille McKella OAM welcomed the audience on behalf of Ashfield Council.
Constitutional expert, Professor George Williams AO and Anthony Mason, Professor of Law, UNSW, started proceedings by outlining the reasons why the Constitution should be updated and its racist powers removed.
Nicole Watson, a member of the Birri-Gubba people and Senior Researcher at Jumbunna House of Learning, UTS, responded by questioning how we can start this campaign when we don’t know what the proposed wording to be put to the referendum will be. She commended the Expert Panel’s report to the audience and explained there is a range of views within the Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander community. Some accept constitutional reform as a pragmatic way forward while others believe it will make little practical difference and a treaty should be the major campaign focus.
Members of the audience, including many Aboriginal attendees, then raised discussion points with the first two speakers. The general feeling of the meeting was that both constitutional recognition and a treaty are needed and they are not mutually exclusive.
Muruwari woman Kirsten Gray, CEO of the NSW Reconciliation Council, then presented the pro-constitutional change position of the Reconciliation Council and encouraged people to get involved.
Outspoken journalist and filmmaker Jeff McMullen wrapped up by alerting those present to the many things that will not be gained by the constitutional recognition, and how far we have to go to have a fair system – which is very different from having equality.
