Discussion paper response

Linda Marion Lobendahn
What is your full name?
Linda Marion Lobendahn
What is your postal code?
2256
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?
It should look the way our First Peoples want it to look.
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?
Everyone should be equal in our constitution.
What should the statement say?
I leave this up to representatives of the First Peoples to decide.
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
This is long overdue. Let us just get it done.
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?
Not sure about the details in legal terms.
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?
Not sufficiently informed to answer this.
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?
Discrimination is totally unacceptable and should be enshrined in the law.
Do you have any other comments on changing the Constitution to stop racial discrimination?
I don't have the expertise to discuss changing the Constitution.
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?
As long as the group represents all indigenous views, of which there are many.
Should we delete section 25?
No
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
Don't know enough about Section 25. However, no-one should be banned from voting in State Elections.
Do you have any other comments?
Let's just get this done, these people have been waiting too long.
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual