The Indigenous Affairs Minister says that the referendum will now be held “in clear space” after the next election. Over the last week, the Government has been dampening expectations that the original timetable (this term) will be met and that the proposed wording will be anything more than minimal, mainly a symbolic gesture towards Indigenous people. The Minister hinted that the change would be modest and acceptable to the mainstream saying, “We need a set of changes that Australia [sic] accepts.” In particular, it appears unlikely to address discrimination or include anything resembling a “rights” or Bill of Rights approach. [“Abbott Government pushes back Indigenous referendum timetable” by Katherine Murphy, The Guardian online, 10 September 2014]
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
