Australian PM reveals next steps on Indigenous referendum

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese fought back tears on Thursday as he revealed the question the government wants to put to a vote in a proposed federal referendum to constitutionally recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese fought back tears on Thursday as he revealed the question the government wants to put to a vote in a proposed federal referendum to constitutionally recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

"If not now, when?," said Mr. Albanese, choking up during a televised media conference.

"For many...this moment has been a very long time in the making," Mr. Albanese said, standing alongside several Indigenous leaders. "Yet they have shown such patience and optimism through this process, and that spirit of cooperation and thoughtful, respectful dialogue has been so important at arriving at this point in such a united fashion."

Australia is seeking to give more recognition to its Aboriginal people, who have inhabited the land for 60,000 years but are not mentioned in the 122-year-old constitution. Any constitutional alterations require a national referendum.

Making up about 3.2% of Australia's nearly 26 million population, Indigenous people track below national averages on most socio-economic measures and suffer disproportionately high rates of suicide and imprisonment. Aboriginal people were marginalized by British colonial rulers' doctrine of terra nullius - nobody's land - and were not granted voting rights until the 1960s.

Australians will be asked to vote between October and December on amending the constitution to create a consultative committee in parliament called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. It would provide non-binding advice to parliament on matters that affect First Nations people.

The government will introduce the constitution alteration bill next week, hoping to pass it in the parliament by the end of June.