The Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Attorney-General and the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians met with the Referendum Engagement Group in Adelaide, on the lands of the Kaurna people.
The Referendum Engagement Group received an update on the Prime Minister’s historic announcement that Australians will head to the polls on October 14 for a referendum on constitutional recognition through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Minister Linda Burney addressed the group and acknowledged the referendum comes after many decades of work. She thanked the group and the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and civic leaders for their work over many, many years.
Assistant Minister Malarndirri McCarthy delivered a message from Senator Patrick Dodson acknowledging that this is an historic moment that provides an opportunity for much-needed practical change to improve the lives of First Nations people.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus noted the high level of support he has witnessed for the proposed constitutional alteration from across the Australian community.
The group received an update about the national enrolment rate which is at 97.5% noting the rate for Indigenous people has increased to 94.1% - the first time in Australia’s history it has been above 90%.
Members of the Referendum Engagement Group provided local updates in the lead up to the referendum and acknowledged the importance of constitutional recognition to improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
The members of the Referendum Engagement Group from across the country are confident the Australian people recognise this historic opportunity.