On 29 March 2022, the Senate referred an inquiry into the application of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 15 September 2022.

The deadline for submissions to this inquiry is 2 June 2022.

This inquiry is investigating the following things:

The application of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Australia, with particular reference to:

1. the history of Australia’s support for and application of the UNDRIP;

2. the potential to enact the UNDRIP in Australia;

3. international experiences of enacting and enforcing the UNDRIP;

4. legal issues relevant to ensure compliance with the UNDRIP, with or without enacting it;

5. key Australian legislation affected by adherence to the principles of the UNDRIP;

6. Australian federal and state government’s adherence to the principles of the UNDRIP;

7. the track record of Australian Government efforts to improve adherence to the principles of UNDRIP;

8. community and stakeholder efforts to ensure the application of UNDRIP principles in Australia;

9. the current and historical systemic and other aspects to take into consideration regarding the rights of First Nations people in Australia; and

10. any other related matters.

Submissions are open now, for more information visit: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Legal_and_Constitutional_Affairs/UNDRIP