Julia Gillard vows referendum on 'first Australians'

Australia's government plans to hold a referendum within three years on whether to amend its constitution to acknowledge the Aboriginal people as the first Australians.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, left, yesterday said that the time was now right to amend the country's constitution to acknowledge that "the first people of our nation have a unique and special place" because such a referendum has broad support in parliament.

One of the first acts by the Labour government after its 2007 election victory was to formally apologise to the Aboriginal people for injustices during the more than 200 years since British colonists arrived.

The vote will take place before or during the next general election in late 2013, she said.