Lessons from our Failure to Build a Constitutional Bridge in the 2023 Referendum

Publisher’s description:
The 2023 referendum was a disaster. After the 40:60 defeat, the key Indigenous leaders said: 'It is clear no reform of the Constitution that includes our peoples will ever succeed. This is the bitter lesson from 14 October.' Many Australians believe that there is still hope. There may be a prospect of future constitutional change but not with the process that was adopted and not with the wording that was proposed in 2023. It's time to begin the conversation about past mistakes, before we all start forgetting what went on.

The major challenge for the country in the future will be according First Australians agency and self-determination while remaining true to the undoubted rules for constitutional change. Indigenous leaders will not accept minimal symbolic change to the Constitution. It will be necessary to find that sweet spot of substantive change acceptable to most members of the Commonwealth Parliament. This book highlights the mistakes of 2023 and points a way forward in hope. Good process can yield good policy, which can produce good politics, which might then result in a popular positive referendum result.

Author: Frank Brennan

Publisher: Connor Court Publishing Pty Ltd

Format: Paperback

Pages: 146

Published: 2022

ISBN: 9781923224124