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Indigenous recognition: referendum failure would be would be 'catastrophic' Indigenous recognition: referendum failure would be 'catastrophic'
(about 1 hour later)
Aboriginal recognition campaigner Jackie Huggins believes it would be “catastrophic” if a referendum to recognise Indigenous people in the Australian constitution failed.Aboriginal recognition campaigner Jackie Huggins believes it would be “catastrophic” if a referendum to recognise Indigenous people in the Australian constitution failed.
About 40 leaders will meet with the prime minister, Tony Abbott, and the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, in Sydney on Monday to thrash out a form of words for a referendum on Aboriginal recognition in the constitution.About 40 leaders will meet with the prime minister, Tony Abbott, and the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, in Sydney on Monday to thrash out a form of words for a referendum on Aboriginal recognition in the constitution.
There is cross-party backing for recognition, as well as strong support in opinion polls and from the Aboriginal community itself.There is cross-party backing for recognition, as well as strong support in opinion polls and from the Aboriginal community itself.
“The big question is about the question [in a referendum] – that’s what the argument is going to be about,” Abbott’s chief Indigenous adviser, Warren Mundine, told Sky News.“The big question is about the question [in a referendum] – that’s what the argument is going to be about,” Abbott’s chief Indigenous adviser, Warren Mundine, told Sky News.
He said it would be a “kick in the gut” if a referendum did not occur.He said it would be a “kick in the gut” if a referendum did not occur.
Related: Here are the two very simple reasons why you should support Recognise | Tanya HoschRelated: Here are the two very simple reasons why you should support Recognise | Tanya Hosch
Huggins, a spokeswoman for campaign group Recognise, agreed, saying it would be “catastrophic”.Huggins, a spokeswoman for campaign group Recognise, agreed, saying it would be “catastrophic”.
“We will not have this opportunity for another generation or two in terms of the goodwill that is out there,” she told Sky News.“We will not have this opportunity for another generation or two in terms of the goodwill that is out there,” she told Sky News.
She urged Indigenous leaders to leave their egos at home when they attend the summit.She urged Indigenous leaders to leave their egos at home when they attend the summit.
“When the leaders are in the room and realise the seriousness of this ... hopefully they will put their egos at bay in order to get our people and the Australian people across the line on this referendum,” she said.“When the leaders are in the room and realise the seriousness of this ... hopefully they will put their egos at bay in order to get our people and the Australian people across the line on this referendum,” she said.
Mundine said it will be a test for the Indigenous leadership at that meeting. He said their discussion would go beyond the room and the individuals in it because it was about the wider Australian community.Mundine said it will be a test for the Indigenous leadership at that meeting. He said their discussion would go beyond the room and the individuals in it because it was about the wider Australian community.
“I want us, as a show of good faith, that we actually sit in this room and have this serious conversation about where this nation is going to go in the future,” Mundine told Sky News.“I want us, as a show of good faith, that we actually sit in this room and have this serious conversation about where this nation is going to go in the future,” Mundine told Sky News.
Government frontbencher Scott Morrison said this process to a referendum needed to be treated carefully. “If it goes too far, it has no chance of succeeding, but if it doesn’t go far enough, then what’s the point?” he told Network Ten.Government frontbencher Scott Morrison said this process to a referendum needed to be treated carefully. “If it goes too far, it has no chance of succeeding, but if it doesn’t go far enough, then what’s the point?” he told Network Ten.
“The idea of recognition, I think is important, just as I believed the apology was important.”“The idea of recognition, I think is important, just as I believed the apology was important.”