Dear Supporter,

Thank you for joining the movement to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as First Peoples in the Constitution and removing race from our founding document.

This manual has been designed to assist you in the planning and delivery of activities that will help the message of Constitutional Recognition reach those within your community.

This manual is divided into the following sections to enable easy access:

1. Background

2. Key Messages

3Talking Points

4. Useful Quotes

5. Political Support

6. Planning

7. Templates

8. Helpful Tips

Use the tabs on the side of this manual to navigate around the sections.

With this manual you would have received the following suite of materials to get you started

  • Fact Sheet
  • FAQ
  • Spread the word flyer
  • Pledge form
  • Poster
  • Promotional video
  • George Williams article on sovereignty
  • Speaking Notes
  • Powerpoint presentation

Please use these materials to assist you in growing the movement to Recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in our Constitution.

We would love to support the work you do through our website and our social media so please keep me informed of your activities and send through any pics and video that I can post.

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact ANTaR on 02 92800060 or

Happy campaigning!

Kind Regards

Jane Powles

National Campaigns Manager

Background

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been calling for Constitutional change for decades.

In 2011 the then Government established an Expert Panel to lead consultations on constitutional change with the Australian people and present a report to the Government. The Panel was made up of Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, non-Indigenous community leaders and respected legal experts. Consultations on Constitutional reform were held in 85 different communities across metro, regional and remote Australia.

There was overwhelming support for change.

3 key messages came from the Consultations

  • Meaningful recognition – many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people felt that their exclusion in the constitution mirrors the exclusion that they have felt in so many aspects of their life, such as in education, health and employment.
  • Racism must be removed. People felt that the sections concerning race in the Constitution were a reminder to many Aboriginal and Torres strait islander people of the racism that so many of them experience in their daily lives.
  • Not worse off – The experience that many Aboriginal people have had with government have led them to be fearful that they would be worse off

In January 2012, the Panel presented its report to the Australian Government. In its Report, the Panel unanimously endorsed a specific proposal to amend the Constitution. If adopted, this amendment would:

1. Recognise the prior occupation and continuing cultures, languages and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

2. Acknowledge the continuing relationship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to these lands and waters.

3. Remove the section that talks about States being able to ban people from voting based on their “race” [section 25].

4. Remove the capacity of governments to make laws to the detriment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples or the people of any “race” [section 51(xxvi)].

5. Insert a protection against discrimination on the basis of race, colour or ethnicity.

In order to amend the Constitution, changes must be approved by a referendum – a vote by the Australian people.

To be successful a referendum must receive a double majority.

A double majority means a ‘yes’ vote by:

1. The majority of Australian voters across all States and Territories; and

2. A majority of States.

In 2013, as an interim step towards a referendum, the parliament unanimously passed an Act of Recognition.

The Act of Recognition has three key features:

1. It expresses Parliamentary recognition of the unique place of Australia’s First Peoples

2. It provides a mechanism for continuing the work of the Expert Panel, through a review and reporting process;

3. It has sunset clause that sets a timeframe for advancing towards Constitutional change.

What happens next?

Parliamentary processes are considering the model and wording for the change to be put to the Australian people.

The current Prime Minister has promised to release the form of words for changing the Constitution within a year of him coming to office. A committee chaired by Attorney General George Brandis has been established to develop this model.

In the mean time ANTaR continues to be a campaign partner of Recognise - the people’s movement to achieve recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our Constitution.

Further Information

Further information is available on our website antar.org.au/constitutional_recognition

Recognise.org.au

Key Messages

We need to fix the silence of Australia’s founding document about tens of thousands of years of history in this land.

We have the oldest living cultures on the planet right here in Australia – yet not one word in our Constitution testifies that long history.

It’s the missing first chapter of Australia’s story. Australia’s story didn’t start in 1788 or in 1901

So we want our founding document to recognize our longer history in saying who we are as a nation. It should include the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander chapter of our story.

Australia’s unique Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are, after all, one of the things that makes us unique in the world and are every bit as much a part of our story as the system of government we inherited from Britain.

We also still have parts of our highest legal document that give governments the power to discriminate against groups of Australians based on our race.

We need to take those sections out.

They don’t reflect our values, they are holding us back from a more harmonious and unified future together.

When we add recognition of the first Australians to our Constitution, we will be making a conscious decision to live together in this land, respectfully – rather than living alongside but apart from one another.

And it will help repair the lingering sense of separation that is often still felt between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australians.

It will be our chance to write the next chapter of our story together.

But this won’t just happen by itself – we need to make it happen by building a peoples movement for recognition.

That’s why all of us need to get involved – by signing up at recognise.org.au and antar.org.au and play our part in bringing about a great moment in our nation’s history.

Key Messages

1. Constitutional Recognition is the right thing to do

  • As a nation we have come to value the rich heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
  • Aboriginal cultures are unique to Australia and are the oldest continuing cultures in the world.
  • The Constitution is our supreme legal document. But it reflects the attitudes of its time. As a result the first chapter of our national story is missing from our national document.
  • Some sections reflect views on race that have no place in the Constitution of a modern, reconciled nation.
  • Updating the Constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and remove racism will be a unifying moment for Australia.

2. It is time to Recognise

  • We need to end the silence and fix the historical exclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from Australia’s Constitution and remove discrimination from it.
  • “We need to unite Australians in a profound way after living apart from one another for so many chapters.”

Michael Long

3. Change is both symbolic and practical

  • Symbolism is important and powerful – Symbols hold great meaning for us. They anchor us to our sense of place in the world. Think of your wedding ring, the jersey of your favourite footy team, the baggy green cap and ANZAC day.
  • As a symbol Constitutional Recognition communicates respect and reflects the truth of our history. It provides a solid foundation from which in unity we can move forward.
  • Closing the gap in respect and understanding is essential to closing the gaps in education and health.
  • “Constitutional recognition is a vehicle for increasing Indigenous self-worth and resilience, and improving the relationship of Indigenous peoples both with governments and the broader Australian community.” Mick Gooda Social Justice Commissioner
  • “This is much more than a question of symbolism, this is a question of national wellbeing and national identity. It's about coming to terms with who we are as a nation and deciding who we want to be in the future. ” Noel Pearson, Cape York Institute

4. Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples involves all of us.

  • Parts of our founding document no longer reflects who we are as a nation
  • The movement for change is building
  • Constitutional change is a peoples vote in a referendum
  • Join the movement

5. Take Action Spread the Word

  • Get Informed atantar.org.au and recognise.org.au
  • Talk with your friends
  • Organise an event
  • Email and talk to community leaders
  • Join the Journey

Useful Quotes

Patrick Dodson

“Recognition of the First Peoples in the Constitution of a country starts to send a message that you are valued, you are important,that we want to respect you, and we want to deal with the thingsthat have caused us division and discord in the past.”

Lowitja O’Donoghue

“Constitutional recognition of the First Australians would be good not only for our own heads and hearts, but also for the nation’s soul.”

Noel Pearson

“This is much more than a question of symbolism, this is a question of national wellbeing and national identity. It's about coming to terms with who we are as a nation and deciding who we want to be in the future. ”

Cape York Institute

Michael Long

“Constitutional Recognition is a chance to unite Australians after living apart from one another for so many chapters” Michael Long”

Millie Ingram

“We are the First Australians. It's up to all of us to come together and acknowledge and recognise this. We have the longest continuing culture in the world. Aboriginal culture doesn't just belong to Aboriginal Australians. It belongs to all of us.”

Archie Roach

“Until that (constitutional recognition) is addressed, then we truly can't go forward as a people, as a nation, as Australians, as a whole. ”

Aden Ridgeway

“Constitutional Recognition would allow the first chapter in the Australian story to be acknowledged. Our history is part of the shared story of every Australian and our Indigenous heritage is something that enhances and enriches every one of us.”

Aaron Pederson

“I want people to be more heartful about the simpleness of this. Let’s not make it too difficult. Recognition means a lot. It’s true. It’s necessary. It’s about acknowledgement and respect.”

Tanya Hosch

“The moment has come for the silence about the unique and valuable contribution of Indigenous Australians to be rectified, and for discrimination to be removed from the Constitution. It has no place in our future.”

Prime Minister Tony Abbott

“I'm a big supporter of this. It should be a unifying moment for Australia. It should be a healing moment for Australia. And that's what I want to bring about. ”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten

"We call Australia a place of fairness and equality. Yet our Constitution still proclaims a whole race may be banned by any state from voting. We need to remove it. And we need to acknowledge the people who lived in this land for 50,000 years before our federation was enacted."

Deputy Leader of the Nationals Barnaby Joyce

“I think we have a duty to do the right thing. So I'm encouraging you, as a person you know is pretty conservative, to move yourself to the position where we move this nation forward as one. ”

Greens Leader Christine Milne

“What a great thing for Australia it would be if, at last, we recognised Australia’s First Peoples in our Constitution - it's part of who we are as a nation. ”

Planning

  • Map your context

Brainstorm a list of local people and organisations who would be supportive.

Make sure you include local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and leaders in your list.

Your local ANTaR, Recognise or your local council could be good sources of advice here.

  • Connect with likely allies to form local coalitions

Coordinate a meeting with local allies to plan a communication strategy.

  • Identify Your Communities of Influence

Develop a list of networks who you can target to take the message to.

  • Match Messaging

Consider the campaign messaging that is most appropriate for your target networks.

  • Decide your vehicle for communication

Develop a list of ways you can take the message to your target networks.

  • Activities calendar

Develop an activities calendar that blocks your work into manageable sizes.

  • Materials and Resources

Consider what materials and resources you will require for your planned activity. Produce or collect key materials as required by the activities calendar.

Communications Matrix

Audience / Message / Vehicle / Outcome / Facilitator / Timing

Activities Calendar

Date / Activity / Venue / Resources Required / Lead Coordinator and
Implementation Team

How to Engage People

  • Be Positive and respectful
  • Convey Enthusiasm
  • Know the materials that you have at hand
  • Know the key players and the website addresses.
  • Use Conversation starters
  • Have you heard?
  • Did you know?
  • Remember there is no enemy in this campaign

Answering Questions

  • Provide credible answers
  • Refer to quotes from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and other community leaders
  • Use materials as prompters
  • Point out answers in materials to questions
  • Say if you don’t know an answer
  • Comment that it is a good question
  • Commit to finding out and getting back to the person and ask for their details.

Printing

  • Use your networks to produce resources. Consider approaching your local MP, local council, local community centres or faith based groups to assist with in kind support such as printing.