Support for constitution change AN OVERWHELMING majority of Australians support changing the constitution to recognise indigenous people as the nation's first inhabitants. An Age/Nielsen poll conducted late last week showed 77 per cent support for such a move, and majority support in every state and territory, across all age groups and among both men and women. Support has grown significantly since an Age/Nielsen poll a year ago showed 62 per cent support for recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the nation's founding document. The latest poll was taken soon after the fifth anniversary of the apology to the stolen generations, which was marked by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott together passing a bill to recognise the unique and special place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, a move designed to build momentum for constitutional change. The telephone poll of 1400 people showed support for recognition was strongest among Greens voters (91 per cent), followed by Labor voters (85 per cent), while 69 per cent of Coalition voters were in favour. Support for recognition was strongest in the ACT, where 95 per cent of voters were in favour. New South Wales and Victoria were the next most enthusiastic, each with 79 per cent of respondents approving of recognition. Support was lowest in Queensland, where 68 per cent of people were in favour. The level of support was highest among those aged 18 to 24, and decreased as age increased, with 71 per cent of those aged over 55 supporting recognition. Recognition had more support among women (79 per cent) than men (75 per cent), and more in the capital cities (78 per cent) than outside (75 per cent). Australian voters have approved only eight of 44 referendums put to them since Federation, and none since 1977.