We must be adequately resourced to ensure this involvement. And adequate time must be given to allow indigenous people, communities and organisations to develop their ideas and positions on Constitutional reform. Constitutional reform and the move to a Republic provide an opportunity for some national healing, for reconciliation - it cannot be rushed. The process of Constitutional reform must also involve a fundamental rethinking of the nation. It will not be enough to merely tinker with the edges of the existing document.
Indigenous peoples require reform which is as much symbolic as it is about nuts and bolts work.
We demand a fundamentally different Constitution, representative of the Australia of 1998 and of our place in that nation which provides us with recognition and protection of our rights. A 'new' Constitution with a few provisions changed and which clings to the underlying principles of the current Constitution will not be enough. We must guard against taking an exclusive view of reform. Of seeing changing the Constitution Act as the only way of achieving change. There are numerous other options which involve Constitutional questions but which are not directly related to the Constitution itself.