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Australia passes indigenous recognition bill | Australia passes indigenous recognition bill |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Australia's lower house has unanimously passed a bill recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples as the country's first inhabitants. | Australia's lower house has unanimously passed a bill recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples as the country's first inhabitants. |
The move came on the fifth anniversary of the historic apology to indigenous Australians for past injustices. | The move came on the fifth anniversary of the historic apology to indigenous Australians for past injustices. |
It is seen as a interim move before a referendum is held to include the recognition in the constitution. | It is seen as a interim move before a referendum is held to include the recognition in the constitution. |
The plebiscite was meant to take place this year but had been postponed by the government to build up support. | The plebiscite was meant to take place this year but had been postponed by the government to build up support. |
Indigenous Australians watching from the public galleries met the passage of the bill, which enjoyed bipartisan support, with applause. | Indigenous Australians watching from the public galleries met the passage of the bill, which enjoyed bipartisan support, with applause. |
"I do believe the community is willing to embrace the justice of this campaign because Australians understand that indigenous culture and history are a source of pride for us all," Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said. | |
"This bill seeks to foster momentum for a referendum for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples." | "This bill seeks to foster momentum for a referendum for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples." |
She said that a review will be held to gauge public support for a referendum, which is needed to make any change to the constitution in Australia. | She said that a review will be held to gauge public support for a referendum, which is needed to make any change to the constitution in Australia. |
Opposition leader Tony Abbott said that constitutional recognition for the indigenous peoples was long overdue. | Opposition leader Tony Abbott said that constitutional recognition for the indigenous peoples was long overdue. |
"We need to atone for the omissions and for the hardness of heart of our forebears, to enable us all to embrace the future as a united people," he said. | "We need to atone for the omissions and for the hardness of heart of our forebears, to enable us all to embrace the future as a united people," he said. |
In 2008, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologised to the indigenous population for laws and policies that "inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss". | In 2008, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologised to the indigenous population for laws and policies that "inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss". |
In his apology, he singled out the "stolen generations" of thousands of children forcibly removed from their families. | In his apology, he singled out the "stolen generations" of thousands of children forcibly removed from their families. |
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