BBC News Asia
13 February 2013 Last updated at 06:02 GMT
Australia passes indigenous recognition bill
Australia's lower house has unanimously passed a bill recognising Aboriginal
and Torres Strait islander peoples as the country's first inhabitants.
The move came on the fifth anniversary of the historic apology to indigenous
Australians for past injustices.
It is seen as a interim move before a referendum is held to include the
recognition in the constitution.
The plebiscite was meant to take place this year but had been postponed by the
government to build up support.
Indigenous Australians watching from the public galleries met the passage of
the bill, which enjoyed bipartisan support, with applause.
"I do believe the community is willing to embrace the justice of this campaign
because Australians understand that indigenous culture and history are a source
of pride for us all," Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said.
"This bill seeks to foster momentum for a referendum for constitutional
recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."
She said that a review will be held to gauge public support for a referendum,
which is needed to make any change to the constitution in Australia.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott said that constitutional recognition for the
indigenous peoples was long overdue.
"We need to atone for the omissions and for the hardness of heart of our
forebears, to enable us all to embrace the future as a united people," he said.
In 2008, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologised to the indigenous
population for laws and policies that "inflicted profound grief, suffering and
loss".
In his apology, he singled out the "stolen generations" of thousands of
children forcibly removed from their families.
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