On Friday 13 March, Professor John Williams (Dean, Adelaide Law School) and Associate Professor Matthew Stubbs (PLPRU) gave evidence before the Commonwealth Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Expanding on PLPRU’s submission to the Committee, their evidence to committee members Ken Wyatt AM MP (Chair) and Senator Rachel Siewert focussed on the choice of possible models. In particular, the Expert Panel’s proposed s 116A was compared with PLPRU’s proposed s 60A, as part of a discussion concerning the appropriate protections for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that should be included as part of the constitutional change.

PLPRU’s submission was commended by the Chair as ‘extremely illuminating’. PLPRU awaits the Joint Select Committee’s report as the next important step on the path to constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.