Nearly 80 per cent of Australians would vote yes in a referendum to see Aboriginal people recognised in the constitution, a poll for Recognise, the group charged with raising awareness of the vote, has found.
Recognise is campaigning for a refendum that would see discriminatory provisions relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people removed from the constitution and see them recognised as Australia's first people.
The survey of 3700 people, including 750 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, found 79 per cent of the general population and 85 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians would vote yes in a referendum on the topic.
The poll also found awareness of constitutional recognition had risen from 37 per cent in March to 63 per cent for the general community, and from 52 per cent to 73 per cent for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Recognise joint campaign director Tanya Hosch told SBS the organisation welcomed the rise in community awareness.
Recognise joint campaign director Tanya Hosch. Source: AAP
"We're very pleased is has gone up from 37 per cent [for the general community] earlier in the year," she said.
"We never quite know what the result is going to be when you test it, but we've now got evidence that what we're doing is working.
"More Australians are interested and they're paying more attention."
Ms Hosch said Recognise had been giving talks to schools and community groups and using advertising among other methods of spreading the message about the need for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal Australians.
She said the meeting with former prime minister Tony Abbott and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten had also helped to raise community awareness.
New Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has also reiterated his support for the cause, Ms Hosch said.
"He called us very early on into the job to express his support - he was already on the record as supporting it, but he wanted to reiterate it was definitely a key priority."
She said the campaign was still on track to be ready for a proposed referendum in 2017, but much more work still needed to be done, including conventions with Aboriginal people to discuss the wording of the questions that would be put to the Australian public.
"This surge of awareness and support can’t be taken for granted," Ms Hosch said.
"The Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader must urgently reach agreement on the composition of the Referendum Council so the next big step towards a model and a referendum can be taken."
Share
