PRINCIPLES THE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM PANEL HAS DECIDED ON

At a recent community sector meeting Gary Highland, executive officer of the Panel, indicated the Panel has established principles for considering constitutional changes:

·         Lead to a more unified, effective nation

·         Supported by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

·         Possible to gain overwhelming support (means bipartisan political support as well as community support)

·         Technically and legally strong

He also commented that the idea of Aboriginal representation in parliament has been added to the Panel’s considerations
.

After receipt of submissions (end-September)
the timetable is

·         Oct-mid Nov:  Roundtables, largely with Aboriginal people (since difficult to get opinion through surveys). Some NGOs

·         By end Oct:  analyse submissions, consultations

·         By end Nov:  complete opinion polling

·         Dec:  Report to Govt