Discussion paper response

Claire Rosalind Thorstensen
What is your full name?
Claire Rosalind Thorstensen
What is your postal code?
4054
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?
Both constitutional change and the development of a Treaty
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?
In the Constitution
What should the statement say?
That prior to the arrival of Caucasian settlers to Australia, the land had been occupied by indigenous peoples for 60,000 years
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 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?
A high level declaration, similar to that used in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights would be a holistic way to introduce the topic, and then drill down to indigenous rights (similar to Article 7 of UDHR)
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?
Stop George Brandis from trying to make changes to the Anti-discrimination Act
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?
I don't know
Do you have any other comments on this Indigenous group?
Previous attempts at this approach have not worked eg. ATSIC succumbed to infighting and nepotism
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
Removal of opportunities for racism
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual