PM tight-lipped on referendum timing

6 Feb 2012, 6:20 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Labor has promised to hold a national referendum on the constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians. (AAP)

Labor has promised to hold a national referendum on the constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians. (AAP)

Both sides of politics will need to come together for a referendum on indigenous constitutional recognition to be success, the government says.

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Prime Minister Julia Gillard is remaining tight-lipped on the possible timing of a referendum on Indigenous recognition in the Australian Constitution.

Labor has promised to hold a national referendum on the constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians during or before the next federal election, due in late 2013.

In January, the federal government's expert panel released a report recommending that Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders be recognised in the body of Australia's founding document.

The panel also recommended scrapping several racist sections and adding new clauses such as a prohibition of racial discrimination.

Ms Gillard told reporters in Canberra on Monday the government and opposition were still considering the panel's recommendations.

She said there needs to be "overwhelming bipartisan" before a referendum can be contemplated.

"To see anything other than bipartisanship in Australia means that a referendum will head for a no vote," she said.

"When we have been able to fully explore how that bipartisanship will come about then we will look at the timing of a referendum."

Since Federation, only eight out of 44 proposals to amend the constitution have been approved.

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