Praveen Menon

CANBERRA, (Reuters) – Activists in one of the longest-running protests against indigenous rights aren’t pinning their hopes on Australia’s May 21 general elections.

The election campaign has been dominated by debate about rising prices, COVID-19 and climate change, with the plight of Australia’s 700,000 or so indigenous people, who track near the bottom of its 25 million citizens on almost every economic and social indicator, far from the top of the agenda.

Gwenda Stanley, an activist who lives at “aboriginal tent Embassy” shelter on the lawn next to Canberra’s old parliament building said that she doesn’t and won’t vote until they have their own voices.

It was first used 50 years ago as a protest against Australia’s treatment of indigenous Australians. The roots of the site date back 65,000 year before British colonialists came.

Although there is some skepticism regarding the election, the campaign has been used by indigenous activists to remind the political parties about their fundamental demand: that Australia recognize its origin inhabitants for the first-time in its constitution.

It does not make reference to Indigenous Peoples. Their leaders have struggled for decades to get recognition for the injustices they suffered from European colonization since the 1800s.

Indigenous people were denied the right to vote from the late 1960s. They also make up 30 percent of prison populations. The problem of Aboriginal people being killed in custody by police officers has been an issue for many years, despite the existence of a Royal Commission that investigated this matter since 1991.

Only a formal apology was issued by the government for any infractions committed in 2008

A referendum is needed to amend the constitution to recognize indigenous minorities and mandate governments consult Aboriginal people about decisions that will affect their lives.

Last week, activists launched an information campaign on all major TV networks asking political parties to support a 2023 referendum.

There is no more delay

In a country which only began counting its native people in 1967, constitutional recognition can be a complicated issue.

Australians have been gaining support for change in increasing numbers. ABC News, a public broadcaster, reported last week that 73% agreed with ABC News about constitutional changes to allow indigenous Australians greater control over their lives.

This is higher than 64% who voted for a referendum during the 2019 elections.

If the referendum is successful, Australia would be joining Canada, New Zealand, and the United States when it comes to officially recognising native populations.

The big parties, however, are split on how they should handle this demand.

Last week, while campaigning to the polls for the election, Scott Morrison refused to support a referendum. He stated instead that his government was going to create indigenous representation through legislation.

Although the ruling coalition promised a 2019 referendum, and had allocated $160million for it, little happened.

Morrison’s office didn’t respond to our request for comments on their plans and views on the matter.

Opposition Labor Party promises a referendum. It is a demand that was first set forth in the 2017 Uluru statement at a convention which brought together more 250 Aboriginal leaders and Torres Strait Islander officials at central Australia’s holy monolith.

“Five years have passed since the Uluru statement was presented to Australians, so there shouldn’t be any further delays. “We believe that the Australian people have everything they need,” a Labor spokesperson stated to Reuters.

“BEGGING FOR RIGHTS”

A referendum must be approved to change the constitution. This feat has been only achieved eight times since 1901.

Analysts say it is the only way for real reform to take place.

James Blackwell from the Wiradyuri, a research fellow at the Australian National University in Indigenous Diplomacy and research fellow on Indigenous Diplomacy.

It’s frustrating in many ways that we keep returning to begging for rights and recognition. However, it’s the way the system works,” Blackwell stated. Blackwell is part of the Uluru Dialogue group which includes legal scholars, community leaders and activists.

The Canberra activists are still protesting, but they will continue to remain put while the politics unfolds.

Stanley is from the Gomeroi tribe and said, “That’s what this embassy does… remind the government that we are still under oppression people.”

“We will stay here forever.”