Episode 24: The People's Constitution by Bronwyn Kelly (Chapter 6 - Part 13)

In Episode 24 Bronwyn Kelly reads Chapter 6 Part 13 of her book, The People's Constitution: the path to empowerment of Australians in a 21st century democracy. In this section she discusses how Australia has been served in the Uluru Statement from the Heart with the most plangent and entirely legitimate call for a coexistence of sovereignties. There is a major piece of unfinished business in our nation’s founding and until it is amicably solved Australia will be unable to lay claim to being a truly democratic and free country. She suggests that "Australians in the 21st century have slowly come to recognise that First Nations’ sovereignty has never been ceded and that therefore it is necessary, both in law and in conscience, to find a way to organise a new political and governance system so that these two sovereignties can coexist peacefully."Bronwyn then suggests that the only way to establish a stable treaty with First Nations is for all Australians - Indigenous and non-Indigenous - to agree to confer all human rights and obligations equally on each other. To do this, Australians will need a process of constitutional reform that cannot be obstructed by the parliament. The benefits of such a process include establishment of a sound basis for lasting peace as well as the possibility of equal wellbeing for all peoples. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bronwynkelly.substack.com