<Li> The exclusivity of indigenous rights over intellectual, real and cultural property, that "does not acknowledge the rights of third parties--in particular, their rights to access Indigenous land and heritage and cultural objects where appropriate under national law ." Furthermore, that the Declaration "fails to consider the different types of ownership and use that can be accorded to Indigenous people and the rights of third parties to property in that regard ." </Li> <Li> Concerns that the Declaration places indigenous customary law in a superior position to national law, and that this may "permit the exercise of practices which would not be acceptable across the board", such as customary corporal and capital punishments . </Li> <P> In October 2007 former Australian Prime Minister John Howard pledged to hold a referendum on changing the constitution to recognise indigenous Australians if re-elected . He said that the distinctiveness of people's identity and their rights to preserve their heritage should be acknowledged . </P> <P> On 3 April 2009, the Rudd Government formally endorsed the Declaration . </P>

United nations declaration of rights for indigenous peoples