The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress and UnitingJustice Australia have made a submission to the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Drawing on our own covenanting experience and the Church’s own constitutional change, we have highlighted the importance of truly consultative processes, and make recommendations for changes to the Australian Constitution that recognise First Peoples and their existing languages, and that remove racist provisions.

UnitingJustice has made a submission to the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ review of the Stronger Futures legislation. The submission outlines our concerns, including the inadequate and disrespectful consultation processes and how some aspects of the legislation take control away from people over the most basic aspects of their lives.

UnitingJustice believes that the Stronger Futures legislative package fails to support Indigenous Australians and does not take into account evidence-based research which demonstrates the importance of empowering Indigenous peoples to take control of their own lives and destinies.

The Uniting and Aboriginal Islander Christian Congress and the Assembly submission to the Expert Panel on Indigenous Constitutional Recognition calls for changes to the Constitution which recognise the prior place of First Peoples and repeal the existing racist provisions.