Constitutional reform and Indigenous peoples
Project Directors: Megan Davis, Dylan Lino
Click here to read the Nation's Apology to the Stolen Generations
In 2007, both sides of politics now agree that when it comes to addressing Indigenous disadvantage, the practical and the symbolic are two sides of the same coin. This project has two themes: constitutional reform and second, reconciliation.
The first phase of this project will involve a critical examination of all the suggested ideas and frameworks for constitutional reform in Australia and will also involve research into extra-parliamentary representation for Indigenous peoples including an analysis of the challenges that have arisen from comparative examples particularly for Indigenous women. The second phase of this project will involve an examination of the Reconciliation process in Australia, drawing upon comparative processes for reconciliation and creating a framework for addressing Unfinished business in Australia building upon the work of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and Reconciliation Australia.
For additional information please refer to our Resource page 'Constitutional Reform and Indigenous Peoples'
Relevant publications:
2012
Davis, Megan, ‘Constitutional Recognition Does Not Foreclose on Aboriginal Sovereignty’ (2012) 8(1) Indigenous Law Bulletin 12
Watson, Irene, ‘The Future Is Our Past: We once were sovereign and we still are’ (2012) 8(3) Indigenous Law Bulletin 12
Williams, George, ‘Does Constitutional Recognition Negate Aboriginal Sovereignty?’ (2012) 8(3) Indigenous Law Bulletin 10
2010
ILC Research Brief No. 3, 2010 Constitutional Reform and Indigenous Peoples: Options for Amendment to the Australian Constitution
ILC Research Brief No. 2, 2010 Constitutional Reform and Indigenous Peoples
2006
Davis, Megan, ‘A Culture of Disrespect: Indigenous Peoples and Australian Public Institutions’ (2006) 8 University of Technology Sydney Law Review 137
Davis, Megan, ‘Chained to the Past: The Psychological Terra Nullius of Australia’s Public Institutions’ in Tom Campbell, Jeffrey Goldsworthy and Adrienne Stone (eds), Protecting Rights without a Bill of Rights: Institutional Performance and Reform in Australia (Ashgate, 2006) 175
Davis, Megan, ‘Treaty, Yeah?The utility of a treaty to advancing reconciliation in Australia’ (2006) 31 Alternative Law Review 127
Davis, Megan, ‘Don’t mention the “S” word: A Response to Henry Reynolds’ (2006) 6 Macquarie Law Journal 14
Davis, Megan, ‘Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Rights’ (2006) 5 Journal of Indigenous Policy 35
2005
Davis, Megan, ‘A Narrative of Exclusion: Indigenous Rights in Australia’ (2005) Human Rights Defender 8-10 (reprinted 2007, pp 16-18).
Davis, Megan, ‘International Human Rights Law and the Recognition of Aboriginal Customary Law’ Aboriginal Customary Laws reference, Law Reform Commission of Western Australia, 2005 (with H McGlade).
Davis, Megan, ‘Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Rights’, Background paper, National Reconciliation Planning Workshop, (2005)
2003
Davis, Megan, ‘International Human Rights Law and the Domestic Treaty process’ in Treaty - Lets Get it Right! (Aboriginal Studies Press, 2003), 137
Davis, Megan, ‘The UK and the Human Rights Act: Way Forward for Australia’ (2003) 22 University of Queensland Law Journal 1-19 (with Professor George Williams).
2002
Davis, Megan, ‘New South Wales Bill of Rights Inquiry’ (2002) 13 Public Law Review 11
2001
Davis, Megan, ‘Mandatory Sentencing and the Myth of the Fair-go’ in Martin Nakata (ed) Indigenous Peoples, Racism and The United Nations (Common Ground Publishing, 2001), 101
Davis, Megan, ‘Mandatory Sentencing and the myth of the fair-go’ Australia Institute of Criminology (AIC): Symposium on New Responses and New Crimes: Indigenous Peoples and Crime (2001)