What is your full name?
Laurence Riley
What is your postal code?
None
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?
I think the change should be made to the Constitution, though don't think the recognition should stop there. I think there needs to be a separate agreement like a Treaty made between the First peoples and the Government.
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?
The Document should be in the overview and the Contents Covering Clauses.
What should the statement say?
The Australian Government of Australia acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia, as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Land and Waters of Australia.
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
The First Peoples are not people who arrived to Australia. We were always here. We are therefore the Owners and Custodians.
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?
We are not people with special needs or disabilities. We are academic, scholars and professionals with the same level of literacy and numeracy; and decision making capacity as other people. We should be making decisions about our own lives and peoples. Go
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?
I think that there needs to be greater emphasis on the Racial Discrimination Act. The Constitution needs to ensure that the Racial Discrimination Act is not changed. Maybe Section 18 needs to be put directly into 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?
No
Do you have any ideas about what the new group would look like?
Dare I say it, it needs to consider the ATSIC model, but have real outcomes.
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
It is fair and consitent across the board. We can't be making decisons for people who cant be involved in the process.
Is there any point in keeping it?
There is no point in keep ing it.
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual