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Constitutional reform 'gazumped' by same-sex marriage postal survey, says Noel Pearson Constitutional reform 'gazumped' by same-sex marriage postal survey, says Noel Pearson
(7 months later)
Constitutional reform to recognise Indigenous people and establish a voice to parliament has been “gazumped” by the same-sex marriage survey, Noel Pearson has said.Constitutional reform to recognise Indigenous people and establish a voice to parliament has been “gazumped” by the same-sex marriage survey, Noel Pearson has said.
Federal government action on recommendations by the referendum council should have already happened but a lack of political leadership and the voluntary postal survey on marriage equality had gotten in the way, he said.Federal government action on recommendations by the referendum council should have already happened but a lack of political leadership and the voluntary postal survey on marriage equality had gotten in the way, he said.
Pearson made the comments at a New South Wales bar seminar on Tuesday evening, convened to hear discussion on the Uluru “statement from the heart” by legal experts including Pearson and human rights lawyer and council member Megan Davis.Pearson made the comments at a New South Wales bar seminar on Tuesday evening, convened to hear discussion on the Uluru “statement from the heart” by legal experts including Pearson and human rights lawyer and council member Megan Davis.
The statement from the heart was the result of a string of national dialogues, gathering the desires of Indigenous people across Australia. The statement and a subsequent report by the prime minister’s referendum council, called for a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice to parliament, and a “Makarrata” peace process.The statement from the heart was the result of a string of national dialogues, gathering the desires of Indigenous people across Australia. The statement and a subsequent report by the prime minister’s referendum council, called for a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice to parliament, and a “Makarrata” peace process.
Pearson said if the country did not take advantage of the opportunity presented by the Uluru statement, he feared “for the state of the Australian heart in relation to Indigenous issues”.Pearson said if the country did not take advantage of the opportunity presented by the Uluru statement, he feared “for the state of the Australian heart in relation to Indigenous issues”.
“It may prove there be greater love for our equivalent human rights strugglers in same-sex marriage, that there be more sympathy for that cause than for ours,” he said. “We’ve been gazumped by that debate.”“It may prove there be greater love for our equivalent human rights strugglers in same-sex marriage, that there be more sympathy for that cause than for ours,” he said. “We’ve been gazumped by that debate.”
Federal government discussion on the referendum council’s proposal stalled after the Garma festival in north east Arnhem Land earlier this year.Federal government discussion on the referendum council’s proposal stalled after the Garma festival in north east Arnhem Land earlier this year.
There, hopes had been raised that the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, may articulate some form of commitment to the recently delivered recommendations, but instead he only urged attendees that the government was considering it. Little has been said since, with Davis warning on Monday at a separate event that there was an expectation of political attention on the issue once the same sex marriage survey was completed.There, hopes had been raised that the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, may articulate some form of commitment to the recently delivered recommendations, but instead he only urged attendees that the government was considering it. Little has been said since, with Davis warning on Monday at a separate event that there was an expectation of political attention on the issue once the same sex marriage survey was completed.
On Tuesday Pearson said the state of politics had resulted in constitutional reform being gazumped and “put on the back burner”.On Tuesday Pearson said the state of politics had resulted in constitutional reform being gazumped and “put on the back burner”.
“We hope that as soon as the same sex marriage plebiscite is concluded, there might be away to put this agenda back out front.”“We hope that as soon as the same sex marriage plebiscite is concluded, there might be away to put this agenda back out front.”
Pearson decried the lack of political leadership, citing a “too diffuse” response from Labor and disunity within the Coalition, and said convincing the Australian people to vote yes on a referendum was a smaller hurdle than the parliament legislating for one in the first place.Pearson decried the lack of political leadership, citing a “too diffuse” response from Labor and disunity within the Coalition, and said convincing the Australian people to vote yes on a referendum was a smaller hurdle than the parliament legislating for one in the first place.
“We don’t have an advocate in the parliament thinking through the issues of how you get reform through your party room and then through the parliament. We need that advocate to come into view and start thinking about how we engineer progress through the party room and… through the parliament. They are very significant hurdles for us.”“We don’t have an advocate in the parliament thinking through the issues of how you get reform through your party room and then through the parliament. We need that advocate to come into view and start thinking about how we engineer progress through the party room and… through the parliament. They are very significant hurdles for us.”
There was no “hopeful glimmer” from Canberra, he said. Government statements so far had bene “severely disappointing” and they had failed to grasp the opportunity presented by the Uluru statement and the referendum council’s recommendation.There was no “hopeful glimmer” from Canberra, he said. Government statements so far had bene “severely disappointing” and they had failed to grasp the opportunity presented by the Uluru statement and the referendum council’s recommendation.
Seminar attendees, largely members of Sydney’s legal profession, questioned how they could assist, and were told government needed to be pushed, and non-Indigenous Australians had to take responsibility and advocate.Seminar attendees, largely members of Sydney’s legal profession, questioned how they could assist, and were told government needed to be pushed, and non-Indigenous Australians had to take responsibility and advocate.
Earlier on Tuesday the Law Council of Australia gave its full support to the referendum council’s recommendations for constitutional reform.Earlier on Tuesday the Law Council of Australia gave its full support to the referendum council’s recommendations for constitutional reform.
“The right to self-determination is a fundamental and non-derogable principle of international law, enshrined in the UN Charter,” said Law Council president Fiona McLeod SC.“The right to self-determination is a fundamental and non-derogable principle of international law, enshrined in the UN Charter,” said Law Council president Fiona McLeod SC.
“Australia has committed to this principle under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The package of reforms proposed by the Referendum Council is an important step forward in the process toward reconciliation. We are now calling for genuine commitment from all federal parliamentarians to implement the Referendum Council’s recommendations swiftly.”“Australia has committed to this principle under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The package of reforms proposed by the Referendum Council is an important step forward in the process toward reconciliation. We are now calling for genuine commitment from all federal parliamentarians to implement the Referendum Council’s recommendations swiftly.”
Indigenous AustraliansIndigenous Australians
Noel PearsonNoel Pearson
Uluru Statement from the HeartUluru Statement from the Heart
Indigenous recognition
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