Discussion paper response

Allan John Locke
What is your full name?
Allan John Locke
What is your postal code?
4558
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?
Formal agreement recognising and guaranteeing the rights of Indigenous Australians in the Constitution
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?
The Preamble is my preferred position
What should the statement say?
It should recognise us as First Peoples of Australia, the long ongoing association we have with it, and the current and emerging participation we have in building the social, economic, environmental and cultural fabric of Australia
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?
I like the ideas surrounding both an Indigenous voice in Parliament and an agreement-making process
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?
I like a non-discrimination clause inserted as a new section of the Constitution so that binds federal Parliament
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 Act and other intersecting regulatory mechanisms
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?
Two options - reshaping the National Congress or establishing an Indigenous parliament
Do you have any other comments on this Indigenous group?
An Indigenous Parliament would look something like the Sami Parliament in Europe
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
That our Constitution no longer contemplates that a government would ban an Australian from voting on the basis of race
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual