Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the First Peoples, but today they are less than 3% of the Australian population. In Australia’s system of democracy, that can make it hard to have their voice heard in elections for the Parliament. It can also make it hard to influence laws that are made about them in the Parliament.
It is vital that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a real say in the laws, policies and programs that a affect their rights. Some people think that Australia should set up a new group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who can give advice to the Parliament about Indigenous issues.
The Constitution could be changed to set up this new group. The group would make sure that the Parliament hears Indigenous voices when the Parliament makes new laws about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This could help the Parliament to make better and more effective laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Question 1: Do you think that Indigenous people should have a say when the Australian Parliament and government make laws and policies about Indigenous affairs?
Question 2: 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?
Question 3: Is it worth creating the new group if it can only give advice and does not have the power to block new laws?
Question 4: Do you have any ideas about what the new group would look like?
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