Recognition: Yes or No?
Team
Writer/Executive Producer Simon Nasht
Producer Ruth Cross
Writer/Director Kay Pavlou
Partners
ABC, Screen Australia, Screen NSW
Format
1 hour documentary
Status
Released 2016 on ABC TV
20 September 8.30pm
Indigenous politician Linda Burney and conservative commentator Andrew Bolt are deeply divided on recognising the unique nature of Aboriginal Australians in the Constitution. She says it would heal wounds, help with reconciliation and be nation building. He says it would be a racist act in itself that will divide rather than unite us. Aiming to change each other’s views, they embark on a four-week journey to seek out opinions from community leaders, lobbyists and lawmakers in Australia and New Zealand. Some want the emphasis put on education, some on a treaty, and some are applying their minds to how to remove a section of the Constitution that still refers to ‘race’ without affecting the legal foundation for native title. How important constitutional recognition is for Indigenous Australia and the nation is a subject all Australians will need to grapple with if it goes to a referendum.