Support for Tas Aboriginal recognition

Tasmania's constitution should be amended to recognise Aboriginal people as the island's first, a parliamentary inquiry has found.

A report compiled by the community development committee and tabled in parliament on Tuesday noted that 2016 marks the state's 160th anniversary of self government and would be an opportunity for "landmark legislation" to be enacted.

"The committee received arguments for and against constitutional recognition but the weight of evidence was in favour," the report findings read.

The wording of the amendment should be developed in consultation with Tasmania's Aboriginal people and the state community.

However, it should be kept short, the committee found.

"A concise and carefully worded amendment would be more likely to be embraced by the community than a more expansionary amendment."

The committee received submissions from 14 groups and individuals and heard verbal evidence during public hearings.

"The committee acknowledges that a strong sense of injustice over past wrongs endures among many Aboriginal Tasmanians to this day," chairman Guy Barnett said.

Positive and proactive engagement across the Tasmanian community is key to reconciliation, the report noted.

An amendment to the state constitution does not require a referendum, but needs backing by a majority in both houses of the Tasmanian parliament.