Indigenous people to be explicitly recognised as 'First Peoples of Australia' in proposed constitutional change

A fourth sentence explicitly recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional owners of Australia could be added to the constitution if a referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament succeeds.

During his speech at the Garma Festival last year, the prime minister said he was proposing three sentences be added to the constitution "in recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the First Peoples of Australia".

Now it appears that line has been added to the draft wording of the proposed constitutional change.

Megan Davis, a member of both the referendum working group and the constitutional expert group, said "significant progress" had been made on the question that would be put to the public at a referendum and the proposed change to the constitution.

It is expected the final wording will be agreed upon by the end of the month.

It comes after a meeting of the expert group advising the government on what wording would be added to the constitution to create an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The group advised an "introductory" sentence would not create any legal issues and would be "appropriate" to spell out exactly why the Voice was being proposed.

The draft wording is:

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:

1. 1. There shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
2. 2.The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to Parliament and the Executive Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
3. 3.The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to the composition, functions, powers and procedures of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice."

In a meeting with the separate referendum working group on Thursday, Anthony Albanese said he was open to suggestions on changing the wording.

"No-one yet in this parliament, across the spectrum, has come up with an alternative word or sentence. But I'm up for it," Mr Albanese said.

The wording of the proposed constitutional change must be finalised before the government puts forward legislation to call the referendum, which is expected to happen in March this year.