The Prime Minister's response was immediate and negative, but Dodson was not deterred. He reaffirmed that this should be a matter for discussion, and promised to engage the public in this and other topics â€" probably including the issue of compensation to members of the Stolen Generations, and changes to the Constitution to recognise the Indigenous people's prior sovereignty over the land that is now Australia.
Mick Dodson has an exceptional record of service and leadership as an advocate for human rights, especially for full rights of citizenship and genuine equality for Australia's Indigenous people. We can be confident that, like some earlier appointments, such as Fiona Stanley and Tim Flannery, he will not shrink from challenging government on policies and stances with which he takes issue.
It is commendable that the Government was willing to accord him the high profile this honour bestows in the current political climate, where there is great pressure for Indigenous people to change radically, in accordance with the dictates of neo-liberalism.
The responses of Tony Abbott and some Aboriginal leaders exemplify the fact that many now see the focus on rights as passé, and entrepreneurship and 'responsibility' as paramount â€" as though these are mutually exclusive categories.
On matters such as the Northern Territory Intervention, and the conversion of communal lands to freehold title to facilitate private home ownership, Mick Dodson has been a strong voice in favour of human rights, and of caution and scepticism in the face of pressure to abandon Aboriginal distinctiveness. While acknowledging the need for change, he has avoided the blame-the-victim tone of some Indigenous leaders.
Surprisingly, some observers seem disappointed that Professor Dodson is already a well known Australian. With characteristic humility, he himself spoke of his reluctance to accept the distinction, noting that many other Australians are more deserving â€" a reminder that many others toil in the same fields, unacknowledged.
Yet there is no doubt that Professor Dodson, with his intellect, knowledge, experience, equable temperament, and eloquence, will be an exceptional Australian of the Year. His background in public life and his familiarity with the media allow him to hit the ground running, as his remarks on the national day have shown.
I expect he will judiciously apply his incisive analytical skills and his persistent advocacy towards goals for which he has long striven. He is a model of a successful professional who has chosen to dedicate his considerable talents to service, when he could undoubtedly have had a more comfortable existence pursuing a career in the private sector.
His role as a mentor and facilitator of young people through the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre is just one of the ways Dodson shares his skill and knowledge.
This is not the place to list his accomplishments, but Mick Dodson's track record is dazzling, with more than three decades of leadership and service. He has represented Australia's Indigenous people in UN forums for many years, and at home has been on the frontline in examining and commenting upon their conditions and ways to address inequality and disadvantage.
His role in the Stolen Generations Royal Commission is particularly noteworthy. Although vilified in some quarters, the report of the Commission brought new levels of awareness of ugly aspects of the history of Australia's dealings with its Indigenous people.
Professor Dodson's own obvious distress at some of the heart-rending accounts of broken lives and remarkable resilience was significant in conveying to many Australians the depth of wounds that must be recognised and treated â€" a task that is far from complete.
I consider Mick Dodson among the most effective public voices in Australia. Deeply thoughtful and balanced in his assessments, he commands attention and respect because he also remains open to the opinions of others, and is ready to be persuaded by a good argument.
Dodson's speeches and interviews are always memorable. His style is not rousing, rather, his utterances are deliberate and thoughtful. He speaks truth to power with courage and passion, with vehemence untainted by venom.
Perhaps most memorable was the speech he gave at the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation's Corroboree 2000, at the Sydney Opera House. He gave an account of aspects of his and his family's experiences as Aboriginal people, and contrasted their situation with then Prime Minister John Howard's at comparable stages of his life.
The profundity of the gulf could not have been clearer. It was a masterful way to shed light on the difference 'race' and, more to the point, racism, has made to people's experience of Australia.
I am confident we shall have many more memorable speeches and challenging observations as this year progresses.
Dr Myrna Tonkinson is an honourary research fellow in anthropology in the School of Social and Cultural Studies at the University of Western Australia who has done research among Aboriginal people in the Western Desert of WA since 1974.
On the web: http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=11415