What is your full name?
Cate Field
What is your postal code?
4034
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?
We MUST recognise them as the first people, their languages, their sacred areas, their cultural practices, their history, and their belief systems must also be recognised just as any religion would be with the same allowances and exemptions so as to not d
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?
Section 51 A of the constitution
What should the statement say?
Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders are the first people of this nation and must be recognised as such in all public documents, our education systems, and all government communication.
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
More effort needs to be made to make amends with the past wrong doings - we must try to reinstate they pride in their culture, their language, their history and continue to have the Prime Ministers say SORRY on a regular basis for what happened to them.
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?
They are not a separate species, just a special culture that needs to be cultivated, and remembered - we need not separate them with this 'race' word, but instead by recognising their culture and how this has now blended with the modern culture of Austral
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?
Section 116A is a suitable place for this - it should cover all racial discrimination but "specifically towards Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people"
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?
Make it against the law to have ANY politician say anything racially discriminatory! You can attack a person, but not their race, religion or sex, this is common cultural practice and should be reflected by our politicians.
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?
What about giving them a position to veto laws, not just give advice? Anything that cause any concern to their culture can and should be reviewed.
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
Save ink. Continue to move in the right direction - reflecting the culture that we all want.
Is there any point in keeping it?
No.
Do you have any other comments?
I agree with all of this: Recommendations for changes to the Constitution 1 That section 25 be repealed. 2 That section 51(xxvi) be repealed. 3 That a new ‘section 51A' be inserted, along the following lines: Section 51A Recognition of Aboriginal and
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual