Discussion paper response

Felicity Isabel Crombach
What is your full name?
Felicity Isabel Crombach
What is your postal code?
3219
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?
Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as our First People and establishing what that means.
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?
Near the beginning.
What should the statement say?
I don't know the exact words but it should include that they have rights and those rights must be respected. This would ensure that where they have land rights they cannot be overruled.
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
No.
Should the word 'race' be taken out of the Constitution?
No
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?
To make laws for different races such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Syrians, Ethiopians etc. starts an "us" and "them" conversation.
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?
The words could include that all Australians are equal before the law regardless from where they originated.
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?
Decree the States cannot discriminate against any race.
Do you have any other comments on changing the Constitution to stop racial discrimination?
Not at present.
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?
I don't know if the existing groups that advise on Indigenous people can fulfil this advisory role.
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
Get rid of race discrimination.
Is there any point in keeping it?
No.
Do you have any other comments?
I would like to see a treaty with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual