Uphold & Recognise

Uphold & Recognise is a non-profit organisation that promotes discussion of how we can recognise Indigenous Australians without disturbing the way that the Constitution operates. The Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Referendum Council’s final report call for Indigenous Australians to be empowered to take responsibility for their own affairs through, among other things, a first nations voice to Parliament. Uphold & Recognise supports these calls.

Uphold & Recognise is represented on the Government's Referendum Working Group by Sean Gordon and Ken Wyatt, and is represented on the Government’s Constitutional Expert Group by Greg Craven.

Uphold & Recognise has formed an alliance with Liberals for Yes to campaign for a successful Yes vote in this year’s referendum on constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament. 


Our Board

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Campaign Coordinator: Sascha Meldrum


Our History

Uphold & Recognise was founded in 2015 by Damien Freeman, a lawyer at the PM Glynn Institute at the Australian Catholic University, and Julian Leeser, who is now the federal member for Berowra. It was founded on two principles. The first is that the Australian Constitution underpins our democratic values and shared way of life, and that this is worth upholding. The second principle is that Indigenous Australians ought to be fairly recognised, on their terms. It is imperative, therefore, that any constitutional reforms both uphold the Constitution and recognise Indigenous peoples.

Uphold and Recognise aims to promote and inform the policy debate through our series of papers, public submissions, public events, and media articles.

Uphold & Recognise is a non-profit organisation. It has previously entered into strategic partnerships with the Australian Catholic University’s PM Glynn Institute and Reconciliation Australia as well as corporate partners, who currently include Afterpay and  the Commonwealth Bank.


 What is constitutional recognition?

Reconciling Indigenous and other Australians is an issue that goes beyond political divisions. It goes to the heart of who we are as a country, and is truly a nation-building project.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart was delivered to the Australian people in May 2017. It calls on all Australians of good will to change the Constitution to ensure Indigenous peoples have a say in the laws and policies that are made about them. This was the first time the Indigenous communities had expressed a consensus position on the way they would like to be recognised in the Constitution. This amendment will create a new section in our Constitution which mandates Parliament to create an advisory body called the Voice. This Voice will be subject to parliamentary control and will not up-end any part of our existing system of government. It is a small change that can make a big difference.

Uluru Statement From The Heart

“We seek constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful place in our own country. In 1967, we were counted. In 2017, we seek to be heard.”

— THE ULURU STATEMENT FROM THE HEART

Constitutional recognition would empower Indigenous people through a representative body, or ‘Voice to Parliament’ that would guide Parliamentarians when making laws especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

For information on how this can be achieved in a way that upholds the Constitution and our democratic way of life see our Publications section.

 
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