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A new bill has been introduced in Australia's parliament for a planned referendum on whether to recognise indigenous peoples in the country鈥檚 constitution.

The vote at the end of the end puts forward legislation that would set up a powerful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice - a body to guide government policy and put forward first nations' views.

Today - Thursday - sees the next step towards this historic move: a Constitutional Alteration bill is being put forward.

One of the MPs at the hearing, and hoping to see it passed, will be Senator Malarndirri McCarthy - a Yanyuwa woman and Labor Senator for the Northern Territory.

She says "this will be a very difficult referendum to win but as the Prime Minister has said, just because it is hard, doesn't mean we should not try, and we have to get out there and we have to give it a go and do the best that we can to encourage the Australian people to walk with us."

"On a personal level, I feel an enormous weight that we are embarking on this path but I also feel deeply grateful that we have a Prime Minister that has the courage and leadership to not only walk with us but also to bring the Australian government".

And it seems like we may have caught her at the perfect time...

(Photo: People participate in the 'Invasion Day' rally in Melbourne, January 26, 2023. Credit: AFP)

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