What is your full name?
Stephanie Parsons
What is your postal code?
2233
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?
Recognising the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians and the first peoples of this land in the Australian Constitution.
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 preamble.
What should the statement say?
We acknowledge that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are traditional custodians of the land and the first peoples of Australia.
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
I think that statement is appropriate.
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?
I feel it should be similar to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act. To protect people from discrimination based on race, gender, age, sex, sexuality, religion etc.
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?
Uniform Commonwealth legislation which prohibit discrimination.
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
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
It eliminates the possibility for people to be discriminated against based on race.
Is there any point in keeping it?
It was really only there as a penalty in the first place.
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual