Legal recognition of aboriginal and recent achievements and future directions

March 28, 2013 was a legal milestone for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with the inclusion of formal recognition in the Constitution Act 1934 (SA)1 and the entry into force of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Act 2013 (Cth).2 This article reflects on the significance of these achievements, and notes the path that lies ahead to translate Commonwealth statutory recognition into constitutional recognition, and the challenge of moving beyond recognition to enhancing legal rights.