Western Australia officially recognises Aborigines in constitution

Perth: A bill to officially recognise Aborigines as the first people and custodians of the state of Western Australia (WA) was passed in the state parliament on Thursday.

MP Josie Farrer said that she was elated that the bill had been passed and added it would give indigenous Australians a platform to negotiate, Xinhua news agency reported.

"It gives them that security as to knowing who they are and how they sit with a lot of the policies in this country," she said.

WA Premier Colin Barnett said the recognition of indigenous Australians in the constitution was long overdue.
WA is one of the last Australian states to officially recognise Aboriginals.

The bill will be presented to the Governor General of WA for royal assent.