Lunchtime Seminar
Indigenous Recognition in the Constitution
Professor Megan Davis and Henry Burmester AO QC
In January 2012 the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians presented its report Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution to the Prime Minister. The Panel recommended that Australians should vote in a referendum to among other things insert a new section SlA to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to preserve the Australian Government's ability to pass laws for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In response to the Expert Panel's Report,Parliament established a Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. That Committee has been asked to consult further on the model,and to help to ensure secure and strong cross-party support so that a proposal can be put to the Australian people at a referendum. The Committee has yet to release its report.
Professor Megan Davis is from Queensland and has Aboriginal and South Sea Islander background. She is an Expert Member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Director of the Indigenous Law Centre, Faculty of Law at the University of NSW,and an Australian member of the International Law Association's Indigenous Rights Committee.She was a member of the Expert Panel.
Mr Henry Burmester AO QC was Chief General Counsel in the Australian Government Solicitor for over a decade and before that head of the Office of International Law in the Attorney-General's Department. He was a member of the Expert Panel.
1 July 2014 at 12:30pm for a 12:45pm start
Ground Floor, 4 National Circuit, Barton ACT
Tea, coffee and sandwiches will be provided. To ensure there is enough food,please register your attendance with Megan Caristo,one of the co-convenors of the ACT Branch of the AACL at megancaristo@gmail.com
Paid parking is available in Macquarie Street car park adjacent to The Ottoman restaurant. The seminar is open to all members of the AIAL and AACL and to any interested members of the public. The seminar is free and attracts 1unit in the ACT mandatory continuing professional development scheme for lawyers.
General inquiries can be directed to the AIAL Secretariat on 02 6290 1505 or at aial@commercemgt.com.au'; // --> //--> or Megan Caristo, a co-convenor of the ACT Branch of the AACL at megancaristo@gmail.com
Home Pages: w ww.aial.org.au and www.aacl.org.au