Praveen Menon

CANBERRA, (Reuters) Activists in one of the longest-running protests worldwide for indigenous rights aren’t focusing their hopes on Australia’s general election of May 21.

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 living in the “aboriginal camp embassy” camp on the lawn next to Canberra’s old parliament building said: “I don’t vote. I wouldn’t vote until our voice is heard.”

This site was first taken over 50 years ago by protestors against Australia’s treatment its Indigenous People. They can trace their roots back to 65,000 years prior to the arrival of British colonialists.

Some indigenous activists have taken advantage of this campaign to remind politicians of what they really want – for Australia to recognize its native inhabitants as part of its constitution.

This constitution does not mention indigenous peoples, whose leaders have struggled over generations for recognition of injustices since European colonization began in the 1700s.

The 30 percent of prisoners are indigenous, who were not allowed to vote in the 1960s. Since 1991, the problem of Aboriginal deaths in police custody has been a concern.

In 2008, the government issued only a formal apology to all inhumanities.

The campaigners want a referendum to change the constitution. This is necessary to recognise indigenous minorities within the constitution. It also mandates that governments consult Aboriginal people when making decisions that impact their lives.

Last week activists ran an information campaign across all the major networks, asking for support from political parties in order to hold a referendum by 2023.

There is no more delay

Stanley and other members of the aboriginal tent Embassy do not support constitutional amendment referendums. They instead call for their own constitutions and indigenous affairs parliaments.

“Why should they be beg for the constitution?” We should not be asking non-indigenous Australia for our land rights back. Stanley stated.

The issue of constitutional recognition in a country where indigenous populations were only counted as part its total population was complex. It has been in existence since 1967.

Australians support change in greater numbers, but they are showing more interest. Public broadcaster ABC News said last week https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-04/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-vote-compass/101031774 that 73% of people agreed there should be constitutional change to give indigenous Australians a greater say over their lives.

It was more than the 64% that voted in favor of a referendum at the 2019 election.

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 did not reply to my request for comment about its plans or views.

The opposition Labor Party, however, has promised a referendum, a demand first enshrined in a 2017 Uluru Statement at a convention https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-constitution-indigenous-idUSKBN18K0P3 that brought together more than 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders at the sacred monolith in central Australia.

“Five Years after the Uluru Declaration was presented to Australian citizens, it is time for no further delay. A Labor spokesperson said that the Labor Party believes the Australian people were ready.

« BEGGING FOR THE 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 (research fellow in Indigenous Diplomacy, Australian National University), said that a referendum is necessary if we are to achieve structural changes to change the way our country operates. He belongs to the Wiradyuri tribe.

“It is disappointing that we must keep going back asking for rights, for recognition. It is how our system works,” Blackwell said. He is a member the Uluru Dialogue group, which includes community leaders, lawyers, and activists.

As the political process unfolds, the Canberra activists will continue to protest.

Stanley from the Gomeroi nation said that “that’s the whole purpose of this Embassy… to remind government and other world governments that we still are oppressed”

“We will stay here forever”