Julian is committed to Reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and has had extensive involvement with the campaign for constitutional recognition over many years.
He has described the constitutional recognition of, and reconciliation with, First Nations peoples as ‘one of Australia’s great national goals.’
Prior to being elected to Parliament he founded Uphold and Recognise an organisation designed to recruit constitutional conservatives like himself to support the cause of constitutional recognition.
He published “An Australian Declaration of Recognition” with Dr Damien Freeman which was launched by Noel Pearson and was foundational to the proposal for a First Nations Voice.
Julian was co-chair (with Indigenous Elder and Labor Senator Pat Dodson) of the Joint Committee on Constitutional Recognition relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. In this role, he was closely involved in further developing the Voice and recommending a process of co-design to ensure that Indigenous Australians were meaningfully included in the co-design, development and implementation of the Voice at the local regional and national level.
Since 2019 Julian has been the Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs which seeks to improve Indigenous Australians’ lives by conducting inquiries into matters referred by the Parliament.
Under Julian’s leadership the committee handed down reports on:
