What is your full name?
Angela Wilkin SMITH
What is your postal code?
2480
Do you support recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by changing the Constitution or making some other kind of legal change?
Yes
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?
in the constitution
What should the statement say?
recognise Aust first occupied by A & TSI peoples. Acknowledge continuing relationship A & TSI peoples with their traditional lands & waters. Respect their continuing cultures, languages and heritages.
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
Aust Gov should set about recognising the sovereignty of A & TSI countries and making a treaty with people of A & TSI countries. These treaties then written into constitution.
Should the word 'race' be taken out of the Constitution?
I don't know
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?
Gov should have power to make laws with respect to A & TSI people but not so as to discriminate against them.
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?
Commonwealth State or Territory shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color or ethnic or national origin... 116
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?
Gov legislation -- in Racial Discrimination Act
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?
Representatives from all countries.
Do you have any other comments on this Indigenous group?
Consider allocating a number of parliamentary seats to A & TSI people.
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
Racial equality written into constitution. Already all peole of all races are entitled to vote.
Is there any point in keeping it?
no
Do you have any other comments?
I have heard many requests from A & TSI persons and others for A & TSI sovereignty to be recognised and a treaty to be negotiated with Aust Gov. Many but not all A & TSI and other people want this before a referendum on constitutional recognition. A & TSI
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual