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Felicity Nelson
Arnold Bloch Leibler senior partner Mark Leibler will co-chair the newly-established Referendum Council on constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and opposition leader Bill Shorten announced that Mr Leibler (pictured) will co-chair alongside Professor Patrick Dodson.
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Mr Leibler said the Referendum Council has an “important responsibility” to take steps to progress the constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians.
“This is a vitally important referendum process for Australia,” he said. “ I feel extremely privileged to be appointed as co-chair of the Referendum Council alongside Professor Dodson, who I have worked with for many years and greatly admire.”
The 16-member Referendum Council comprises Indigenous and community leaders, legal experts and former politicians.
It is tasked with the responsibility of advising the government on a process towards a referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution.
The other members of the Referendum Council are: Pat Anderson; Professor Megan Davis; Andrew Demetriou; Murray Gleeson QC; Mick Gooda; Tracey Hosch; Professor Kristina Keneally; Jane McAloon; Noel Pearson; Michael Rose; Natasha Stott Despoja ; Amanda Vanstone; Dalassa Yorkston; and Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu.
The first meeting of the Referendum Council is expected to be held early in 2016.
