Sydney - Australia may finally recognise that Aboriginals inhabited the vast continent before British settlement in 1788 if a growing push to change the nation's constitution preamble is successful.
The Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, has offered qualified support to the move, which would help improve his strained relations with the indigenous population. Australians will vote at a referendum in November on whether to cut formal ties with Britain and become a republic. Changing the preamble may be included as a second question.