The Act inserted a preamble into the Constitution which acknowledges 'the Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians, whose lands, winds and waters we all now share' and 'their unique values, and their ancient and enduring cultures, which deepen and enrich the life of our community'. The Bligh government proposed the amendment, declaring it an 'important step in the ongoing reconciliation process' (Bligh 2009, 3476). The amendment was not supported by the Opposition (the Liberal National Party), who labelled it a 'wast[e] ... of the parliament's time' and 'a superficial nod in the direction of political correctness ... designed to divide Queenslanders' (Langbroek 2010, 364-5). The Opposition specifically criticised 'the elevated recognition of one ethnic group within the Queensland community - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - to the exclusion of all others' (Langbroek 2010, 365). Nevertheless, the bill was passed, making Queensland the second Australian State (after Victoria) to recognise Indigenous Australians in its Constitution. | |
