No Referendum on Indigenous Recognition

The Australian today reports that Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt has walked back from a commitment by the Morrison Government to hold a referendum on Indigenous recognition in this term after a backlash in the Coalition party room over the vote. Mentioned were Senators Dean Smith (WA), James McGrath and Amanda Stoker (both Qld) who were claimed to have stated that there has been no consultation with MPs over the timeline and no model to take to the electorate. Wyatt described the timeframe as “aspirational” while conceding that he had to work closely with party members and the party room in Canberra to determine what was possible. WfaAR comment: if not to take place by 2022, the rocky road of Indigenous Recognition as well as that of the Republic, just got rockier.