Discussion paper response

Chris Donovan
What is your full name?
Chris Donovan
What is your postal code?
6330
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?
Recognise that terra nullius was wrong.
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
What should the statement say?
Summarise the changeover from many nations to one nation.
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?
No
Do you have any other comments on powers to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
Not sure if it is needed as the history of it is so bad.
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?
In behaviour and individual rights type of section.
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?
Bring it in with any irrational discrimination, where bigotry or wilful ignorance over rides merit and reason.
Do you have any other comments on changing the Constitution to stop racial discrimination?
Discrimination is more than race- it is cultural or religious or regional or class based. Second last immigrants are racist towards the latest immigrants. Best way to stop racial discrimination is to promote merit and goodwill based choices.
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?
No
Do you have any other comments on this Indigenous group?
Same problem, many nations have joined together involuntarily. Positive discrimination leads to resentment.
Should we delete section 25?
I don't know
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
I didn't know it existed
Is there any point in keeping it?
I know nothing about it
Do you have any other comments?
Section 25 sounds scary.
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual