Australia soon to recognize Aboriginals through referendum

Sydney

Australia moved closer to recognising Aboriginal people in its constitution today after talks with indigenous leaders, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said as he urged an end to the "echoing silence" in the founding document.

Written more than a century ago, Australia's constitution fails to mention Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people and a campaign has been underway for several years to "recognise" the continent's first inhabitants via a referendum.

"I am confident that the time is right to move down this path," Abbott said after unprecedented bipartisan talks in Sydney with some 40 indigenous leaders and Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten.

"I think that there is an abundance of good will. I think we are good enough, big enough and brave enough to do this, but it is important that we get it right."

Abbott praised Australia with its indigenous heritage, British foundation, and multicultural character but said: "What we now need to do is to end that echoing silence in our constitution... the omission of indigenous people." 

Debate on the content of the changes has already begun, and Abbott said he was ruling nothing in or out, but that both he and Shorten were committed to holding a recognition referendum.