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Aboriginal constitutional recognition back on cards after Australian PM rekindles talks

Xinhua, August 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called for renewed talks about recognizing Indigenous Australians as the country's "first people", just weeks after rejecting the issue.

Abbott on Wednesday asked prominent Aboriginal leaders to come to Canberra to rekindle debate on the issue, which had initially been doused by the prime minister in July.

At the time, Abbott said he did not think Indigenous-led consultations were the best way to move forward with constitutional recognition, something which drew a backlash from both Indigenous leaders and the opposition.

But on Wednesday, Abbott sent out an open invitation for four representatives to meet with him later this week, which prompted critics to label the move as a knee-jerk reaction to recent polls, which have detailed a dive in the prime minister's approval rating.

Far North Queensland's Noel Pearson, West Australian Indigenous leader Patrick Dodson, Indigenous lawyer and constitutional expert Megan Davis and National Congress of Australia's First Peoples co- chair Kirstie Parker were all asked to meet with the prime minister to discuss the right way to tackle Indigenous recognition.

Dodson said he welcomed the prime minister's invitation, telling the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday that it was "important" that Aboriginal people had significant input into the issue of constitutional recognition.

"At this stage in our history it's important that Aboriginal people be given the opportunity to at least weigh and consider this matter," he said.

"So long as there's communication going on around challenging issues like specific conventions for Indigenous peoples, that's got to be a positive."

Currently Australia's constitution does not recognize the Aboriginal people, and the talks are expected to come to a compromise that would satisfy both the Indigenous leaders and the government.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten praised Abbott's decision, saying his sudden change of heart on the issue was a positive one.

"It was disappointing when Tony Abbott poured cold water on ( the consultations) -- I'm pleased he has changed his mind," Shorten said. Endi