Opinions towards Indigenous Australians remain complex. Australians generally support improving outcomes, but don't consider issues facing Indigenous people as the most important to the nation. Despite strong support for changes to the constitution to both remove reference to race and to recognise culture, language and heritage, Australians are divided on how and where general improvements can be made.
80% of Australians agree Indigenous Australians should be able to decide their way of life for themselves.
36% of Australians support, and 46% strongly support removing race from the constitution.
Australians also support (45%) or strongly support (28%) recognising Indigenous culture, language and heritage in the constitution.
A third of Australians (34%) felt injustices towards Indigenous people are now in the past.
Support for changes to the constitution is strong, with an overwhelming 82 per cent of respondents either supporting (46%) or strongly supporting (36%) the removal of clauses which discriminate on the basis of race. There is significant (76%) for recognising the value of continuing cultures, languages and heritage as a basis for law change. This position is reflected by the overwhelming belief (80%) that Indigenous people should be able to decide for themselves their way of life. However there is complexity in the views with one third of Australians saying that injustices towards Indigenous Australians is a thing of the past.
At the practical level, there is division on what is needed to produce equality. Two policy areas – education and employment – are identified as key factors for improving the lives of Indigenous Australians. Respondents were divided on whether special programs and admission entry should exist at universities, with 30 per cent disagreeing and 12 per cent strongly disagreeing. In contrast, 17 per cent strongly agreed and 37 per cent agreed that universities should have special programs and admissions.
There is more unity for employment assistance. 69 per cent of respondents agree or strongly agree that the government should provide extra help for Indigenous peoples to enter employment. Support for similar measures from the private sector sits at 66 per cent.