What is your full name?
Teresa Emmerson
What is your postal code?
3806
Do you support recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by changing the Constitution or making some other kind of legal change?
Yes
Should we have a statement that acknowledges the First Peoples of Australia?
Yes. This should be in the Constitution.
What should the statement say?
This Constitution recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are the founding First Peoples of Australia.
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
Keep it simple and unambiguous.
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?
There should be no distinctions in the law between Australians. All Australians should have equal rights and responsibilities under the law without regard to race, ethnicity, colour, religious belief or any other personal characteristic..
Do you think that a guarantee against racial discrimination should go into the Constitution?
No
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?
Educate young people better. Teach Civics as part of a national curriculum. Keep Section 18C.
Do you have any other comments on changing the Constitution to stop racial discrimination?
Through the education curriculum, ensure that young people understand the Constitution, the rationale that underpins it. Teach it at different age levels and in different subjects (Civics, History, Philosophy, Politics, Legal Studies). There is no guara
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?
Experience suggests that, like any other group (eg councils, committees), indigenous groups tend to become dominated by factionalism and political ideologies. Like all Australians, indigenous people are represented by their elected members of Parliament.
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
Do you have any other comments?
Education is the key. Education at all age levels but particularly in schools and tertiary institutions. In the long view of history, we are not very far distant from the "White Australia Policy" and changing attitudes takes time, patience, consistency a
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual