{{Australia’s lower house has unanimously passed a bill recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples as the country’s first inhabitants.}}<\/p>\n
The move came on the fifth anniversary of the historic apology to indigenous Australians for past injustices.<\/p>\n
It is seen as a interim move before a referendum is held to include the recognition in the constitution.<\/p>\n
The plebiscite was meant to take place this year but had been postponed by the government to build up support.<\/p>\n
Indigenous Australians watching from the public galleries met the passage of the bill, which enjoyed bipartisan support, with applause.<\/p>\n
“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,” Ms Gillard said.<\/p>\n
“This bill seeks to foster momentum for a referendum for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Opposition leader Tony Abbott said that constitutional recognition for the indigenous peoples was long overdue.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
In 2008, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologised to the indigenous population for laws and policies that “inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss”.<\/p>\n
In his apology, he singled out the “stolen generations” of thousands of children forcibly removed from their families.<\/p>\n
BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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