What is your full name?
Kate O'Toole
What is your postal code?
3747
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?
The change needs to recognise that Australia was home to the first peoples at the time of colonisation, federation and the writing of the constitution. Given the violent history of genocide and displacement towards the first peoples of Australia, it is on
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?
They should be acknowledged in the preamble as well as in clause 9, which needs to outlaw racial discrimination and have an explanation of why this is relevant to our country.
What should the statement say?
The statement needs to explain the circumstances of colonisation and the treatment of the first peoples of Australia. It would ideally explain that it is now understood that it was a grievous breach of human rights and that provisions are now made to att
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 have any ideas on what new words could be used to describe that power, or where in the Constitution to put the power?
I believe this question is best answered by the first peoples of Australia, after all, it relates to their specific needs for governance. Perhaps clause 2 is the logical place to have this. It needs to be clear that the power is one that speaks for the Fi
Do you have any other comments on powers to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
I believe that provisions for circumstances where there has been a breach of human rights needs to be made by those that are well informed of the situation. Perhaps Parliament is that safest place to leave that power, although the human rights breaches of
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 clause 9. An acknowledgement of the past and a promise that racial discrimination will be prohibited in our laws.
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?
Government education campaigns for social cohesion and understanding, education on Australian history from kindergarten, deleting section 25
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?
Yes
Do you have any ideas about what the new group would look like?
It's a start. At the very least a democratically elected advisory group can have an impact on the laws that are made.
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
Despite the Racial Discrimination Act making it illegal for States to prevent anyone from voting it is still an antiquated and offensive section. By deleting it we show unity with all races and uphold the spirit of the Racial Discrimination Act
Is there any point in keeping it?
No.
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual