Senator BOLKUS —I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move:

That the Senate—

(a)   recognises that 27 May 1997 is the 30th anniversary of the referendum that amended placitum 51 (xxvi) of the Constitution, giving the Commonwealth the power to make special laws for any race, in particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders;

(b)   reaffirms its support for the outcome of the referendum which received the unprecedented support of 90.77 per cent of the Australian people;

(c)   recognises that the referendum was passed with the intent that the power conferred on the Commonwealth should only be used for the benefit of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

(d)   affirms the statements made at the time by the political leaders of the time, in support of the referendum, in particular the comments made by:

   (i)   the Prime Minister, Mr Harold Holt, who said:

         `We cannot allow it to be said that our Constitution discriminates against some people who live within our shores—the Aborigines. Nor is it, we believe, acceptable to the Australian that the national parliament should not have power to make special laws for the people of the Aboriginal race where that is in their best interests.',

   (ii)   the Deputy Leader of the Country Party, Mr Doug Anthony, who said:

         `. . . words which can be read as discriminating against the Aboriginal race will be removed. This would give the Commonwealth, for the first time, power to make special laws for the benefit of Aboriginal people throughout Australia ...', and

   (iii)   the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Australian Labor Party, Mr Gough Whitlam, who said:

         `The welfare of Australian Aboriginals requires this referendum be carried. The good name of Australia demands it be carried overwhelmingly . . .', and

         `. . . The Commonwealth . . . must now be empowered to accept that responsibility on behalf of Aboriginals, as it already does for all other Australians.';

(e)   recognises the importance, both domestically and internationally, of this referendum in defining Australia's commitment to act in a non-racially discriminatory manner and to the pursuit of reconciliation and social cohesion; and

(f)   calls on all Australian Governments and Parliaments to respect and honour both the letter and spirit of the referendum.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —That is a very long notice, Senator. It may be edited in publishing.