What is your full name?
Theresa Gordon
What is your postal code?
2914
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?
Acknowledgement that Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people are the first people of this land and have at least a 50,000 year continuous history with this land. Its very special.
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?
Right up front;The first thing. I have always liked the idea of a preamble as well as an acknowledgment in the Constitution.
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
“Whether we make the crossing will depend on whether we can turn the indictment into admission, the admission into forgiveness, forgiveness into atonement, and atonement into reconciliation.” Noel Pearson
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?
No
Do you have any other comments on powers to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
I do NOT want a racist Constitution and at the moment it is. There is one race and that is the human race.
Do you think that a guarantee against racial discrimination should go into the Constitution?
I don't know
If there is not enough support for a guarantee in the Constitution, what other things can we do to stop racial discrimination in national laws?
You cant just go to a guarantee without have many more actions to support it. It will backfire.
Do you have any other comments on changing the Constitution to stop racial discrimination?
A statement that tries to define being Australian as being someone that supports diversity not to be a racist. You catch more flies with sugar than salt.
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?
Parliament id the place for decisions not any other body. The new group should be advisory only.
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
We would get rid of a racist Constitution
Is there any point in keeping it?
NO
Do you have any other comments?
Just please do it. It's a first step to a Treaty which is what should really be happening.
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual