Australia's support of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Learn why Australia initially voted against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007 and how support has evolved.
Summary
The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on Thursday 13 September 2007. It was adopted with 143 countries voting in favour, 11 abstaining and 4 voting against. Australia was one of the four countries who voted against the Declaration.
Australia's support of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Background / Intro
The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on Thursday 13 September 2007. It was adopted with 143 countries voting in favour, 11 abstaining and 4 voting against. Australia was one of the four countries who voted against the Declaration.
With the change of government at the last federal election there has been a change in position on the Declaration with the Rudd government indicating that it supports the Declaration.
The government has now sought the views of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, among other stakeholders, on matters relating to how they ought to formally indicate their support for the Declaration.
In the course of providing advice, the Government has asked that I seek the input of Indigenous individuals and organisations. Accordingly, I sought your views on matters relating to the Declaration, as well as other issues that you considered should be addressed. I sought feedback from April to August 2008.
I received a great deal of feedback and would like to thank everyone who responded.
Regards, Tom Calma
Page updated
September 5, 2008
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