NRL and RECOGNISE STAND TOGETHER AGAIN TO CAMPAIGN FOR CHANGE
The 2017 NRL Indigenous Round, which kicks off this week, will celebrate two significant milestones in Australia's history, the 50th Anniversary of the 1967 referendum and 25 years since the historic Mabo decision.
The 1967 referendum remains the most successful in the nation's history and is a powerful reminder that Australians can come together as a country and bring about real and lasting change.
This year's NRL Indigenous Round, with the theme of Recognition, is again lending its strong support to the work of Recognise and the push for constitutional change as the next important step in the journey to reconciliation.
RECOGNISE Joint Campaign Director, Mark Yettica-Paulson said it's time to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution and deal with the outdated racial discrimination in it.
"We've taken a leaf out of the 1967 campaign play-book and have taken this issue to the streets, homes, sporting fields and communities across Australia.
"At most of this year's Indigenous Round games Recognise Field Leaders will be out and about spreading the word about constitutional reform. They're aiming to have one million one-on-one conversations with everyday Australians and they'll be recruiting volunteers to help them achieve that.
"Recognition and stamping out racism in the game has made the NRL a community leader, and we are proud to partner with them again.
"Thanks to the work of the NRL, on the footy field it's simple – we recognise and acknowledge the unique contribution of Indigenous people to the game.
"So as a nation that prides itself on its relationship with the oldest continuing cultures on earth, it doesn’t make sense to have our most important legal document completely silent about that.
"Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people would be the most profound acknowledgement of country from the cornerstone legal document.
"The NRL, the players and clubs have been committed partners of the RECOGNISE campaign since 2014 and deserve our congratulations for their leadership," Mr Yettica-Paulson said.
