Discussion paper response

Jonathan Epstein
What is your full name?
Jonathan Epstein
What is your postal code?
3162
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 should be a statement, inserted in the Constitution, that acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians as a preamble in a statutory Declaration of Recognition. Section 25 should be removed, along with sect
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 a statutory Declaration of Recognition
What should the statement say?
It should embrace the true history and the special culture of Indigenous Australians, and their unique contribution to Australia.
Should the word 'race' be taken out of the Constitution?
I don't know
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?
S 51(xxvi) should be removed and replaced by a positive grant of power to make only “beneficial” laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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 constitutional prohibition on racial discrimination could be inserted in place of a deleted s 127.
Should the guarantee protect all Australians against racial discrimination, or only Indigenous Australians?
All Australians
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?
Group of Indigenous elders, decided upon by their communities to represent the interests of indigenous people
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
This is an antiquated, redundant and racist section, which reflects past discrimination against Indigenous peoples' rights to vote.
Is there any point in keeping it?
No, I see no positive benefits to it.
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual