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The debate on the recognition of Indigenous Australians in the Australian Constitution is more about how, than whether, this should occur. The two main proposals involve the use of a preamble. One proposes symbolic recognition in a new constitutional preamble with a clause prohibiting use of the preamble in constitutional interpretation. The other would give Parliament power to make laws with respect to Indigenous Australians, but qualify it in a preamble so that it could only be exercised for their ‘advancement’. This article draws on comparative experience of the use of preambles in other common law countries to challenge the assumptions underlying each proposal.

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The 2020 Summit was a mixed success. On one level it successfully encouraged the discussion of Australia's future, as well as supporting the propositions that ideas matter, that the community may contribute to government, and that change may be positive, rather than something to be feared. It also produced a great deal of public engagement through local, school and youth summits, public submissions and public nominations for participation in the summit. Televising the full proceedings on ABC2 permitted many people to feel involved in the Summit from their own homes. As a public education and participation process, it could therefore be judged a success.If, however, the purpose of the Summit was to harness the ideas of the 'best and the brightest' and develop practical proposals, then its success is more doubtful.There are a number of reasons for this.