council supports constitutional recognition for indigenous peoples

report from the roundtable - 27 mar

At the last council meeting I put forward a motion to support the recommendations of the Expert Panel report into Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. I'm pleased to report that the motion was supported unanimously by council.

Yarra Ranges Council has been a leader in supporting its Indigenous community. We have the second largest population of Indigenous peoples in metropolitan Melbourne.

The first council to deliver a statement of apology in 1997, since that time we've worked to maintain an Indigenous voice on Indigenous issues. We think it's important to acknowledge and protect Indigenous cultural heritage, engage Indigenous young people and promote health and wellbeing amongst our Indigenous community. In 2006 we employed an Indigenous Development Officer and established an Indigenous Advisory Committee to advise council on Indigenous matters.

Given our history of commitment to reconciliation and strengthening the relationship between Indigenous and non Indigenous communities I thought it would be important and appropriate for council to support Constitutional Recognition.

Prior to me bringing the motion to council I spoke to our Indigenous Advisory Committee to seek their advice on the matter. I'm pleased to report the committee were very supportive of the motion.

The motion also seeks member councils of both the local government peak bodies, the VLGA and MAV, to endorse the recommendations of the Expert Panel into Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

I look forward to seeing more local governments support this important change to our constitution.

The motion:
That Council:
1. Welcomes the release of the Expert Panel report into Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and supports all of its recommendations.
2. Write to the MAV and the VLGA, endorsing the panel recommendations and requesting the MAV and VLGA member councils also endorse these recommendations.

sorry day anniversary

Today is the fourth anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. It is important to remember these landmark occasions, I remember the National Apology well, celebrating with my colleague Cr Jeanette McRae and community members at the live broadcast at Swinburne University, Lilydale campus.

It is important at this time to turn our minds to the discussion around the Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians. Recognition has bi-partisan support and the Federal Government has committed to referendum, however given the past success rates of referenda in this country it will be difficult to achieve.

I can only hope for a simple straightforward question that people will easily support matched with wide consultation and a well resourced education campaign.

I intend to move a motion that the Yarra Ranges Council supports Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians and have referred it to our Indigenous Advisory Committee for their comment.

The time is right for our society to support Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians and bring our country into line with other nations which have long recognised their traditional owners.