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| Australia PM Abbott wants indigenous referendum in 2017 | Australia PM Abbott wants indigenous referendum in 2017 |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Australian PM Tony Abbott has vowed to "sweat blood" to secure constitutional recognition for indigenous people, saying he wants a referendum in 2017. | Australian PM Tony Abbott has vowed to "sweat blood" to secure constitutional recognition for indigenous people, saying he wants a referendum in 2017. |
| But Mr Abbott said he would not rush with the date until he was confident the referendum would succeed. | But Mr Abbott said he would not rush with the date until he was confident the referendum would succeed. |
| To be passed, the change must be backed by a majority of people in a majority of Australia's six states. | To be passed, the change must be backed by a majority of people in a majority of Australia's six states. |
| The constitution currently does not recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the nation's first people. | The constitution currently does not recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the nation's first people. |
| Unlike in other nations settled by Europeans, such as Canada and New Zealand, Australia's constitution does not mention indigenous people. | Unlike in other nations settled by Europeans, such as Canada and New Zealand, Australia's constitution does not mention indigenous people. |
| In the past few years, there have been discussions about recognising them in a preamble to the constitution, and about changing the main part of the constitution to include a section that outlaws racial discrimination. | In the past few years, there have been discussions about recognising them in a preamble to the constitution, and about changing the main part of the constitution to include a section that outlaws racial discrimination. |
| Aboriginal Australians represent about 2.5% of Australia's 24 million people. Generations of discrimination and disadvantage have left them with poor health and low levels of education and employment. | Aboriginal Australians represent about 2.5% of Australia's 24 million people. Generations of discrimination and disadvantage have left them with poor health and low levels of education and employment. |
| 'Aboriginal heritage' | |
| Speaking in Sydney on Thursday, Mr Abbott said he hoped the vote would be held in May 2017 - on the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum that approved constitutional amendments relating to the country's indigenous people. | Speaking in Sydney on Thursday, Mr Abbott said he hoped the vote would be held in May 2017 - on the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum that approved constitutional amendments relating to the country's indigenous people. |
| "That would be a richly symbolic time to complete our constitution," he said. | "That would be a richly symbolic time to complete our constitution," he said. |
| "But I do not want it to fail because every Australian would be the loser. It is more important to get this right than to try to rush it through." | "But I do not want it to fail because every Australian would be the loser. It is more important to get this right than to try to rush it through." |
| And Mr Abbott stressed: "I am prepared to sweat blood on this." | |
| "The country we created has an Aboriginal heritage, a British foundation and a multicultural character and it's high time that this reality was reflected in our constitution." | "The country we created has an Aboriginal heritage, a British foundation and a multicultural character and it's high time that this reality was reflected in our constitution." |
| Meanwhile, opposition leader Bill Shorten urged the referendum question to be formalised before the next general elections for the campaign to move forward. | Meanwhile, opposition leader Bill Shorten urged the referendum question to be formalised before the next general elections for the campaign to move forward. |
| Mr Shorten said that otherwise "it is just not possible to raise awareness (about the issue) beyond the abstract". | Mr Shorten said that otherwise "it is just not possible to raise awareness (about the issue) beyond the abstract". |
| In 2010, the government formed an expert panel to examine constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. | In 2010, the government formed an expert panel to examine constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. |