Rock for Recognition

Today the musician Dan Sultan announced a series of concerts to raise awareness of the need to include Australia's Indigenous people in the preamble of the Australian Constitution.

As ANTaR point out, the Australian Constitution still allows for laws that stop people voting, owning property or working in certain professions based on race.

ANTaR presented a report to the Australian Government in January 2012 supporting changes to the Constitution, to specifically: 'recognise the prior occupation and continuing cultures, languages and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples; acknowledge the continuing relationship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to these lands and waters; remove the ability of States and Territories to bar certain races from voting [section 25]; remove the capacity of governments to make laws to the detriment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples or the people of any race [section 51(xxvi)]; and insert a protection against discrimination on the basis of race, colour or ethnicity.'

ANTaR have a fact sheet and community participation program you can access here if you are interested in more information on the issue.

Dan Sultan, a member of the Gurindji Nation, is putting on a series of shows to help raise awareness of these issues for the Indigenous community called Rock For Recognition, as helping promote the need for recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples in the Australian Constitution. Bands such as Yabu Band, Leah Flanagan and DJ Ken Eval will be playing.

The shows will be held as follows:
 
Thursday November 8: Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Friday November 9: Factory Theatre, Sydney
Saturday November 10: Bakery Artrage, Perth
Sunday November 11: Fly By Night, Fremantle





Further Reading
ANTaR, Constitutional Recognition < http://www.antar.org.au/constitutional_recognition > at 22 August 2012

Tone Deaf, Dan Sultan Announces Indigenous Rights Concert Tour (22 August 2012) < http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/news/tournews/191430/dan-sultan-announces-indigenous-rights-concert-tour.htm > at 22 August 2012

The Music Network, Dan Sultan to head Rock for Recognition concerts (22 August 2012) < http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-news/artists/2012/08/22/dan-sultan-to-head-rock-for-recognition-concerts/ > at 22 August 2012