This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/26/journey-of-recognition-relay-begins
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Journey of Recognition relay begins | Journey of Recognition relay begins |
| (4 months later) | |
| A momentous relay across the length and breadth of Australia designed to build support for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has begun in Melbourne. | A momentous relay across the length and breadth of Australia designed to build support for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has begun in Melbourne. |
| The Journey to Recognition relay, organised by the Recognise campaign, will see a mixture of grassroots supporters and high-profile political and community leaders travel along the south coast from Melbourne to Adelaide, and then up to the Northern Territory, to Alice Springs passing Uluru, and ending up in Nhulunbuy on the Gove peninsula on 9 August. The relay will then break for the election period, before continuing through the country. | The Journey to Recognition relay, organised by the Recognise campaign, will see a mixture of grassroots supporters and high-profile political and community leaders travel along the south coast from Melbourne to Adelaide, and then up to the Northern Territory, to Alice Springs passing Uluru, and ending up in Nhulunbuy on the Gove peninsula on 9 August. The relay will then break for the election period, before continuing through the country. |
| AFL legend Michael Long, who marched from Melbourne to Canberra in 2004 protesting against the treatment of Indigenous Australians under the Howard government, took the first historic steps on Sunday. | AFL legend Michael Long, who marched from Melbourne to Canberra in 2004 protesting against the treatment of Indigenous Australians under the Howard government, took the first historic steps on Sunday. |
| Long addressed a 1,000-strong crowd at Federation Square in Melbourne. “We need to fix the gap in Australia’s constitution. We’ve got a chance in the next two or three years to get this right as a country – by going to a referendum,” he said. | Long addressed a 1,000-strong crowd at Federation Square in Melbourne. “We need to fix the gap in Australia’s constitution. We’ve got a chance in the next two or three years to get this right as a country – by going to a referendum,” he said. |
| He added: “It would be a great mark in our history. This is a document that is important for all Australians – and we’re an integral part of Australia.” | He added: “It would be a great mark in our history. This is a document that is important for all Australians – and we’re an integral part of Australia.” |
| Constitutional recognition has received cross-parliament support. The Recognition Act, which commits Australia to a referendum on the constitution, was passed by parliament in February this year, with support from both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition. | Constitutional recognition has received cross-parliament support. The Recognition Act, which commits Australia to a referendum on the constitution, was passed by parliament in February this year, with support from both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition. |
| Tony Abbott spoke at the rally in Federation Square, reiterating his support for the campaign. “Our forefathers have created one of the most magnificent countries on Earth … Except in one respect: we have never properly acknowledged the first Australians … I see acknowledging Aboriginal people in our constitution not as changing it, but as completing it,” he said. | Tony Abbott spoke at the rally in Federation Square, reiterating his support for the campaign. “Our forefathers have created one of the most magnificent countries on Earth … Except in one respect: we have never properly acknowledged the first Australians … I see acknowledging Aboriginal people in our constitution not as changing it, but as completing it,” he said. |
| He added that the issue was “too important to ignore, too important to get wrong, too important to turn into a political football”. | He added that the issue was “too important to ignore, too important to get wrong, too important to turn into a political football”. |
| A change to the Australian constitution requires a “double majority” in the referendum, meaning that both a national yes vote and a majority of states must vote in favour. Australia has had 44 constitutional referendums in its history, with only eight succeeding – the last amendment passed in 1977. | A change to the Australian constitution requires a “double majority” in the referendum, meaning that both a national yes vote and a majority of states must vote in favour. Australia has had 44 constitutional referendums in its history, with only eight succeeding – the last amendment passed in 1977. |
| Jenny Macklin, minister for Indigenous affairs, was also present at the Melbourne launch. She acknowledged that the decision on a constitutional acknowledgement now rested with the Australian people. | Jenny Macklin, minister for Indigenous affairs, was also present at the Melbourne launch. She acknowledged that the decision on a constitutional acknowledgement now rested with the Australian people. |
| “It is so critical that we have a people’s movement where we all come together and build the momentum for an overwhelming vote to get to change our constitution,” she said. | “It is so critical that we have a people’s movement where we all come together and build the momentum for an overwhelming vote to get to change our constitution,” she said. |
| She added: “On this weekend we also say very loudly, as Australians, there is no place for racism in our society. There is a place to say yes to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our constitution.” | She added: “On this weekend we also say very loudly, as Australians, there is no place for racism in our society. There is a place to say yes to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our constitution.” |
| The start of the Journey to Recognition fell on the eve of the anniversary of the historic 1967 referendum, which resulted in the right for Aboriginal people to be counted as citizens in Australia for the first time. It was also the 15th annual National Sorry Day, which marks the publication of the landmark Bringing Them Home report that examined the experiences of Indigenous Australians from the Stolen Generation. The day was marked with local events throughout the country. | The start of the Journey to Recognition fell on the eve of the anniversary of the historic 1967 referendum, which resulted in the right for Aboriginal people to be counted as citizens in Australia for the first time. It was also the 15th annual National Sorry Day, which marks the publication of the landmark Bringing Them Home report that examined the experiences of Indigenous Australians from the Stolen Generation. The day was marked with local events throughout the country. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |