Historic Constitutional reform reaches Tasmanian Parliament

 Constitutional Recognition for Tasmania small but significant step
 Aboriginal intellectual property and cultural heritage rights important legally and economically
Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Madeleine Ogilvie today welcomed the tabling of the Constitutional Amendment (Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal People) Bill 2016.
“It is very gratifying to see that what started as a small idea has grown into a Bill for a substantial and historic change to the Tasmanian Constitution,” Ms Ogilvie said.
“I am proud of this initiative and I’m proud of the fact that Tasmania could not have reached this stage in the Constitutional reform process without the full engagement across the three parties represented in the House of Assembly.
“A range of views will no doubt be expressed during the debate on this Bill and Labor looks forward to presenting a positive approach to this change.
“Labor has identified a range of reform policies including improvements to Aboriginal intellectual property and cultural heritage rights that we see as important from a legal and economic perspective.
“But achieving Constitutional Recognition for Tasmania is a small but significant step.”
Madeleine Ogilvie MP Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs