Tomorrow is Day 1 of my second year of Law School. I have spent the weekend getting organised and have made a solid start on the reading for week 1. However some thoughts already…

Where have I been the last 7 years?

Back in 2015 Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten came together and established the Referendum Council, seeking progress towards the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our Constitution. In 2016 a discussion paper was released. In 2017 a First Nations Constitutional Convention was held near Uluru. The Uluru Statement was read. The Uluru Statement called for a national process of Treaty and Truth-Telling overseen by a Makarrata Commission, along with a constitutionally enshrined voice to the parliament. Makarrata is a Yolngu word approximating the meaning of “treaty” Recommendations were made. In 2018 Morrison became PM and was returned in 2019. In 2019 the Morrison Government signaled an intention to hold a referendum in their first term. That first term is almost over.

The Uluru Statement was awarded the 2021 Sydney Peace Prize.

On 21 December 2021 the Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Final Report was released. “The Government will now commence discussions with States, Territories and local governments to encourage participation in Local & Regional Voice arrangements, and appoint an establishment group to work government on implementation of Local & Regional Voices.”

The only recommendation in that report regarding constitutional recognition is “Note the support for the enshrinement of the Indigenous Voice in the Constitution that was expressed particularly through the submissions received as part of the consultation process.”

Note.