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Australia PM Abbott wants indigenous referendum in 2017
December 14, 2014
Australian PM Tony Abbott has vowed to "sweat blood" to secure constitutional recognition for indigenous people, saying he wants a referendum in 2017.
But Abbott said he would not rush with the date until he was confident the referendum would succeed.To be passed, the change must be backed by a majority of people in a majority of Australia's six states.
The constitution currently does not recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the nation's first people.