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Australia has lost a giant.
Yunupingu, a Yolngu man of the Gumatj clan, has passed away.
A pioneer of the Aboriginal land rights movement, including the landmark Gove Land Rights case and the Yirrkala Bark Petitions, in 1978 Yunupingu was named Australian of the Year.
Yunupingu served as the Chair of the Northern Land Council for 23 years.
He worked with more than 10 Prime Ministers of Australia on the struggle for Indigenous recognition, and lived through the many disappointments.
MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS, LINDA BURNEY: Thank you all for coming this morning. This is truly history in the making. Today with the introduction of the Constitution Alteration Bill, we are one step closer to making history. One step closer to making history. One step closer to creating a Voice, that makes sure the voices of our people are heard. One step closer to improving lives with a Voice that make a difference. One step closer to moving Australia forward for everyone. This referendum is not about politicians. And it's not about lawyers.
The Australian Government is today taking a first legislative step towards the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia’s founding document.
The Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 contains the constitutional amendment that will write a new chapter in our Constitution:
Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
The Australian Government is today taking a first legislative step towards the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia’s founding document.
The Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 contains the constitutional amendment that will write a new chapter in our Constitution:
Chapter IX Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 129 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
The Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Attorney-General, the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and the Referendum Engagement Group today marked a significant moment in Australia’s history.
The group’s fifth meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, coincided with the historic introduction of the Constitution Alteration Bill into the Australian Parliament.
MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS, LINDA BURNEY: Thank you all for coming this morning. This is truly history in the making. Today with the introduction of the Constitution Alteration Bill, we are one step closer to making history. One step closer to making history. One step closer to creating a Voice, that makes sure the voices of our people are heard. One step closer to improving lives with a Voice that make a difference. One step closer to moving Australia forward for everyone. This referendum is not about politicians. And it's not about lawyers.
STEVE MILLS, HOST: Clive Palmer's suing the federal government for $300 billion. If that's not weird in itself, the guy who's the head lawyer, and there's about 10 of them, is Christian Porter, who was the former Federal Attorney-General, and I would say was probably in power when the allegations are that the government didn't do what it should have done, and that he didn't have any luck with WA so now I'm gonna have a crack at the nation. I want to go to Geneva, I don't understand what this is about. Can you explain it to me?
Today the Albanese Labor Government is delivering on its election commitment to help close the gender pay gap for women in Australia.
The Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023 has passed the Parliament.
That means from early 2024, the gender pay gaps of employers with 100 or more workers will be published – a key reform to drive transparency and action towards closing the gender pay gap.
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER:
Peter Dutton is playing hide and seek with the Australian people. He is hiding from the voters of Aston, while seeking their vote. Peter Dutton is hiding his policies, while seeking to undermine the policies of the Government. And Peter Dutton is hiding behind his front bench, while they seek to undermine progress towards a constitutionally enshrined Voice.
KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: As Andrew Clennell mentioned a bit earlier in the programme, this poll in the West Australian newspaper showing a strong uptick in support for the Voice to Parliament. 60% in favour of the yes vote in WA. Just 40% on the no side, let's bring in the Minister assisting the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman. He's also a WA MP. Why do you think we're seeing that level of support in the west?