What is your full name?
Sieger de Vries
What is your postal code?
2066
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?
A recognition of the people that lived in Australia when European settlers arrived. This could later be augmented by a formal treaty.
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?
Constitution and treaty
What should the statement say?
That the aboriginal people occupied Australia before the arrival of Europeans and that they were the custodians of the land. Also acknowledge the great length and diversity of their culture.
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
Australia should be proud of the 60000 years of Aboriginal history in Australia. This should be researched, documented, taught at schools and celebrated
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 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?
No. But keep it simple like a human right and equality.
Should the guarantee protect all Australians against racial discrimination, or only Indigenous Australians?
All Australians
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?
Existing laws seem good
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?
I don't know
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
Equality and the removal of a terrible relic of the past
Is there any point in keeping it?
None whatsoever
Do you have any other comments?
This seems to drag along and not have the right priority and advocacy from our political leaders. They talk a lot and nod a lot but it just does not seem authentic. It is not a priority for them. Having said that, this is already 100 years overdue so qual
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual