Australia enlists NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal on Indigenous reform

Story by Reuters

Updated 0920 GMT (1720 HKT) August 27, 2022

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right), Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney (left) and former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal (middle) exchange gifts before a press conference in Sydney, August 27, 2022.

Former US basketball star Shaquille O'Neal will help Australia's new government implement reforms for an Indigenous voice to parliament, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday, standing alongside NBA Hall of Famer.

Albanese's center-left Labor Party government is seeking a referendum, needed to change the constitution, on recognizing Indigenous people in the constitution and mandating consultation with them on decisions that affect their lives.Details on the so-called Indigenous voice to parliament will follow the national referendum on the question, which the government wants to hold in the parliament's current term.«I'm here in your country, whatever you need from me you just let me know,» O'Neal told Albanese during a news conference in Sydney, before leaving without taking questions.Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney told the news conference that O'Neal had requested to be involved and described the mission for change as «a noble task.»Read MoreAlbanese said O'Neal, a four-time NBA champion, had a track record in the United States of working for social justice and «lifting people up who are marginalized.»«We want to build the broadest possible support and we want to engage with people who can connect with young people in particular but with all sections of society,» Albanese said.«Shaq has that record of… bringing people together of different backgrounds which is consistent with our approach.»O'Neal had agreed to do some