"Time for Aboriginal rights written into Australia's Constitution." - Kevin Rudd (1 Viewer)

[chicky_pie]

KEVIN Rudd today declared it was time to recognise the rights of indigenous people in Australia's Constitution.

In Arnhem Land for a historic Cabinet meeting, Mr Rudd said the Government would "give attention to detailed, sensitive consultation with indigenous communities about the most appropriate form and timing of constitutional recognition", The Australian reports.

The Prime Minister's pledge came after he accepted a petition from 13 of Arnhem Land's most senior traditional men, who called for their "self-evident" rights to be recognised in the Constitution.

At the remote community of Yirrkala today, Arnhem Land leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu gathered the community's children around him as he handed a petition to the Prime Minister at the same spot Yolgnu elders had handed over a bark petition calling for land rights 40 years ago.

"This is the beginning of the future of these little ones," Mr Yunupingu said.

The former Australian of the Year, one of Arnhem Land's most powerful men, said indigenous rights were “self-evident”.

"These rights are fundamental to our place within the Australian nation," Mr Yunupingu said.

Labor's support for the constitutional recognition of indigenous people pre-dates its election to government, but Mr Rudd has previously been coy about when the Government would begin the process of moving towards that goal.

Should the rights of indigenous people be recognised in the Constitution, for example in a preamble, there would have to be a referendum requiring majority support in a majority of states.

Mr Rudd said the Government remained focused on practical reconciliation and closing the gap in disadvantage between white and black Australians.

But the national apology to the Stolen Generations had "built a bridge of respect" between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, and it was now time to "walk across that bridge together".

"While our priority now remains this practical challenge of closing the gap, we will also give attention to detailed, sensitive consultation with indigenous communities about the most appropriate form and timing of constitutional recognition," Mr Rudd said.

His pledge came as he held a community Cabinet meeting at Yirrkala, attended by about 400 people.

Mr Rudd fielded questions on outstation policy, income management, indigenous education, health, bilingual education and housing and infrastructure for remote workers.

The Prime Minister called for greater partnerships between indigenous communities, government and corporate Australia.

Each remote community should team up with a corporation that could provide guidance and support to communities in establishing greater economic independence, he said.

Mr Rudd and his cabinet are this afternoon participating in community forums on health, housing and education in the northeast Arnhem Land mining town of Nhulunbuy.

The cabinet will return tonight to Darwin, where it will hold a closed meeting tomorrow.


http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24066124-421,00.html

What about working families, they need rights too..right?

 

[jb_nc]

Aboriginal rights: different to white man's rights.

Kevin Rudd is an epic tool.

 

[Slidey]

I agree.

on a similar note, i petition kevin rudd to write Animal Rights into the Australian constitution

You're basically implying Aborigines aren't humans, but animals.

Pretty fucking inflammatory, whatever side you're on.

 

[jb_nc]

Aboriginal right number 1:

Cultural right to abuse children (not necessarily theirs, either).

 

[Will Shakespear]

he almost ran out of symbolic things to do so he had to come up with a new one

forever in campaign mode

 

[spiny norman]

Meh, it'll never pass in a referendum.

 

[Will Shakespear]

Meh, it'll never pass in a referendum.

thank god for western australia

 

[jb_nc]

he almost ran out of symbolic things to do so he had to come up with a new one

forever in campaign mode

he just appointed a ambassador to the Vatican. only a truly creative mind could have thought of that shit.

there's more definitely in store for his minions the Australian people.

 

[Slidey]

Can't say I'm impressed (or particularly unimpressed) with Rudd so far. I didn't vote for Rudd or Howard, though.

 

[JUSTINISANGLO]

Can't say I'm impressed (or particularly unimpressed) with Rudd so far. I didn't vote for Rudd or Howard, though.

Because you don't live in either of their electorates...

YOU VOTED FOR A PARTY.

YARRR HOW TO DO IT.

Furthermore, this is absoLUTELY fucking retarded. DA WITEFELLA LOR

 

[badquinton304]

ITT bitter liberals.

 

[Enteebee]

ITT bitter liberals.

oy mate i voted for da greens/demycrats and i think rudd's pretty shit eh

 

[JUSTINISANGLO]

ITT bitter liberals.

Yeah because any criticism of rudd MAKES A POLARISED DEBATE

idiot.

 

[Snaykew]

oy mate i voted for da greens/demycrats and i think rudd's pretty shit eh

Someone's trying to sound overly Australian on the internet. Also lol, demycrats.

 

[Robert Mugabe]

The people of Zimbabwe commend Mr. Rudd's move to recognise the rights of the black population of Australia.

We support the struggle of the black men & women of Australia against the oppression of white rule, and look forward to the day when Australia, like Zimbabwe, throws off its colonial rule.

Regards, Robert Mugabe
President of the Republic of Zimbabwe

 

[badquinton304]

Yeah because any criticism of rudd MAKES A POLARISED DEBATE

idiot.

Ooo bit itchy today are we.

 

[withoutaface]

What the fuck are "Indigenous rights".

EDIT: Cause if it's like the right not to get raped by your grandfather I'm fairly sure that's already covered by the Crimes Act.

 

[withoutaface]

Ooo bit itchy today are we.

Hey guys, raise your hands if you were old enough to vote at the last election.

 

[bigboyjames]

srsly, FUCK RUDD. wtf is this, one day he tries to show aborigines as Australians and on another day he shows them as separatists and wants them to have different rights.

fuck rudd.

 

[KFunk]

They're getting ahead of themselves. A proper bill of rights for all Australians would be a better start. Indigenous rights, perhaps related to minor legal exemptions or similar, could always be built into it.