What is your full name?
Marcia Shaunessy
What is your postal code?
2488
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?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples need to be recognised as Australian citizens with the same rights as other Australians. They need to have the authority and financial support from the Australian government to take care of country and histor
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?
Right at the beginning of the Constitution as Aborigines were here at the beginning.
What should the statement say?
Australia recognises Indigenous Australians (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) as the First Peoples of Australia.
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
Respect Indigenous Culture and Customs.
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?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are Australian citizens, like all other citizens of Australia. Australian laws apply to all Australian citizens.
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?
Discrimination on the grounds of race, religion or sexual orientation is an illegal act and will be dealt with by the courts.
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?
Perhaps they could be implemented into State law.
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?
Should be made up of tribal elders and educated Aboriginal representatives, eg lawyers, who are able and willing to negotiate with government.
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
Recognition and equal rights for all Australians
Is there any point in keeping it?
No
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual