FED: All Australians can now support preamble says Dems

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-1999
FED: All Australians can now support preamble says Dems

Australian Democrats Leader MEG LEES says all Australians should now be able to support the
proposed preamble to the Constitution.

Senator LEES's comments follow today's deal between the Democrats and Prime Minister JOHN
HOWARD on the issue.

The agreement ends the row over the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders
by referring to their deep kinship with the land.

It's also ditched the controversial reference to mateship.

The newest Democrats Senator ADEN RIDGEWAY, federal parliament's sole Aboriginal member,
played a key role in brokering the compromise in his first week in parliament.

Senator LEES says the wording is now better than any suggested before and will advance the
cause of reconciliation.





She admits the battle over the word MATESHIP was a major sticking point before Mr HOWARD
agreed to drop it.

The Democrats leader says she's very pleased that while the word has gone, the positive
connotations that go with the word are there.

AAP RTV ss/mfh/trm/jn

KEYWORD: PREAMBLE DEMOCRATS (CANBERRA)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.