Discussion paper response

David Ross Flett
What is your full name?
David Ross Flett
What is your postal code?
4849
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?
Acknowledging they were original peoples of the land with distinct culture.
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?
Start of constiturtion
What should the statement say?
Before European settlement by British in 1788, Australia and the Torres Strait Islands were colonised by indigenous peoples as current science rescognises as far back as 60,000 years....
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
See above
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?
I don't know
Do you have any other comments on powers to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
Consultation with current indigenous peoples needed first
Do you think that a guarantee against racial discrimination should go into the Constitution?
I don't know
Do you have any other comments on changing the Constitution to stop racial discrimination?
Whatever is said is based on scientic knowledge or common sense knowledge
Do you think Indigenous people should have a say when Parliament and government make laws and policies about Indigenous affairs?
I don't know
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?
I don't know
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
Voting is dependent on character and good behaviour, not race
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual