TEMPLATE REPORT

Australia’s indigenous people form 2.5% of the total population of 24 million.
But unlike other European settler communities like New Zealand and Canada have no recognition within the country’s constitution, as the nation’s first people.
The Referendum must have the support of the majority of people in the majority of Australia’s six states.
A major hurdle is the inclusion of a ban on racism in the constitution.
Abbott is aiming for a referendum vote on recognising Australia’s first peoples in May 2017.