What is your full name?
Lynette Joy Bevington
What is your postal code?
2783
Do you support recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by changing the Constitution or making some other kind of legal change?
Yes
What should the change look like?
Change the Constitution
Should we have a statement that acknowledges the First Peoples of Australia?
Yes. This should be in the Constitution.
Where is the best place to put it?
In the body of the Constitution
What should the statement say?
It should acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the original inhabitants and therefore First peoples of Australia and acknowledge their ongoing connection with the land and waters
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
It is very important for us the move into the future as a mature nation
Should the word 'race' be taken out of the Constitution?
Yes
Should the Australian Parliament keep the power to make special laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
Yes
Do you have any ideas on what new words could be used to describe that power, or where in the Constitution to put the power?
Amend section 51 to remove race but authorises Parliament to act with respect to ATSI people
Do you have any other comments on powers to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
This was won with 1967 referendum but it also needs an Indigenous representative body to advise Parliament
Do you think that a guarantee against racial discrimination should go into the Constitution?
Yes
Do you have any ideas about what words to use for that guarantee, or where in the Constitution to put it?
insert a non-discrimination clause in a new section of the Constitution
Should the guarantee protect all Australians against racial discrimination, or only Indigenous Australians?
All Australians
Do you think Indigenous people should have a say when Parliament and government make laws and policies about Indigenous affairs?
Yes
Should a new Indigenous group be set up under the Constitution to give advice and make sure Indigenous people have a voice in political decisions that affect them?
Yes
Is it worth creating the new group if it can only give advice and does not have the power to block new laws?
Yes
Do you have any ideas about what the new group would look like?
Aboriginal leaders from across Australia from different skill areas eg the arts, business, community leaders
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
it is not needed
Is there any point in keeping it?
no
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual