Discussion paper response

Niclas Davis Witton
What is your full name?
Niclas Davis Witton
What is your postal code?
2112
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 recognise ATSI peoples as the original inhabitants and owners of Australia and protect them in particular and other peoples in general from unfair discrimination of any kind.
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?
It should be in the Constitution itself.
What should the statement say?
(See under Change above).
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
It should specifically foreshadow a process leading to a treaty.
Should the word 'race' be taken out of the Constitution?
Yes
Do you have any other comments on powers to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
Such laws should be for the advancement of ATSI peoples and prohibit the kind of discriminatory and harmful legislation Australia's past.
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?
It should be in the Constitution and should be drafted in consultation with representative bodies of the various groupings of Australian resident.
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?
We should definitely not weaken existing laws in this area; on the cotrary.
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?
This is not easy as -- like any other group -- there is not one sub-group, but many. However they should not be appointed by the ruling political party but by agreement in some form by ATSI Australians.
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
Removing a blot on our country's reputation
Is there any point in keeping it?
No
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual