Discussion paper response

Jafar David Clark
What is your full name?
Jafar David Clark
What is your postal code?
7113
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?
Aboriginal people should be recognised as the original inhabitants of Australia. They should be given equal opportunity to access all government services and offered opportunities to equal standards of living to the majority of the Australian population.
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?
?
What should the statement say?
Aboriginal people should be recognised as the original inhabitants of this continent, and as displaced peoples should afforded the right to equal participation in political policy and law regarding their rights to the land once occupied by their nations.
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
A Treaty should be established, similar to the Treaty established with the Indigenous people's of New Zealand.
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?
Yes
Do you have any ideas on what new words could be used to describe that power, or where in the Constitution to put the power?
Laws relating to Aboriginal people should be noted; in agreement with the traditional land owners and law makers of this country.
Do you have any other comments on powers to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
Consultation should be held with traditional land owners in the recognised "nations" of this continent to recognise the continuous relationship with country. And that all due respect be offered to the ancestors and what they had done for the people of Aus
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?
Under the laws established in this country that all people be respected equal rights in this land without prejudice, no matter their race, religion or ethnicity.
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?
Strengthen the laws now that protect all Australian rights from discrimination.
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?
Representatives from three levels of Government; regional, state and federal.
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual