Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation

The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation

Goal 1: Documents

Achieve recognition and respect for the unique position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the indigenous peoples of Australia through a national document of reconciliation and by acknowledgment within the Constitution of this country.

Through this goal, the Council aims to fulfil its responsibilities to report on the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and of the wider Australian community on the nature, content and manner of giving effect to a document, or documents, of reconciliation which would benefit the Australian community as a whole.

The Council recognises that documents of reconciliation can have a variety of forms. Proposals which have been considered include a formal national agreement; a new Constitutional preamble; other Constitutional amendments, including a possible bill of rights; and regional and local agreements. There already exist a large number of regional and local agreements which have been negotiated between indigenous communities and other parties--such as local government, mining companies or pastoralists--which promote reconciliation through respect and understanding.

The Council has established that there is broad community support for a formal reconciliation agreement. A majority of people believe that an agreement would improve relations between indigenous Australians and the wider community. Strong community support has also been shown for a new Constitutional preamble which would acknowledge the unique status of indigenous people and their original ownership of this land. The Constitution in its current form makes no mention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

In developing proposals for a document or documents of reconciliation, the Council will consider its previous work, including the Council's 1995 Social Justice Submission to the Government; the outcomes of the 1997 Australian Reconciliation Convention; the community consultations which informed the Social Justice recommendations and the Australian Reconciliation Convention; and the outcomes of both the 1997 national Constitutional Convention and the Indigenous Leaders' Constitutional Convention. Other significant events during this final term which may influence the form and content of a national document are the Sydney 2000 Olympics and the centenary of Federation in 2001.

Strategies

Establish a working party comprising members of the Council (and others if appropriate) to advise the Council about: the nature and content of a national document of reconciliation; the development of supporting legislation which could also provide a framework for making local and regional agreements; a proposed new preamble and other changes to be embodied in the Australian Constitution; strategies for having a national reconciliation day recognised in Australia's official calendar of events; other constitutional or legislative reforms which will contribute to national reconciliation; and the process by which this goal can be achieved by the end of the Council's term.
Issue a public discussion paper on national agreements and constitutional reform which will give the whole Australian community the opportunity to comment on the Council's proposals.
Develop and implement a public awareness and communications strategy to promote community interest in, understanding of, and support for documents of reconciliation.
Encourage governments, business, peak organisations and community groups to negotiate local and regional agreements with indigenous peoples which promote reconciliation.
Gain the support of all political parties for a national document of reconciliation and for changes to the Australian Constitution which acknowledge the unique status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Performance Indicators

Following widespread consultation, the Council produces by May 2000 a draft national document of reconciliation for public consideration.
The Council reports, through the Minister, to the Parliament before 1 January 2001 and makes recommendations on the nature, content and means of achieving and implementing a document or documents of reconciliation.
Centenary celebrations are organised which incorporate a focus on the achievements of reconciliation.
Comprehensive advice and recommendations are provided to the Government on future legislative reforms which will continue to contribute to national reconciliation.
Cross-party support is shown for a national document of reconciliation and constitutional reform which will contribute to national reconciliation.

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