What is your full name?
Margaret Hinchey
What is your postal code?
2117
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?
Get rid of sections 25 and 50 that allow for racial discrimination. As a non-indigenous 4th generation Australian it offends me that we have such statements in our 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?
Either as a preamble or preferably in the body of the Constitution.
What should the statement say?
I think the suggestions made by the Joint Select Committee are acceptable to me.
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
It must be supported by a big majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples. It must be something we can all be proud of as we in Australia have and enjoy the history and culture of the longest living culture on the planet.
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?
I don't know
Do you have any other comments on powers to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
I am unsure of this because while the powers were originally meant to help Aboriginal peoples they have been used rather to further their oppression eg. the NT Intervention.
Do you think that a guarantee against racial discrimination should go into the Constitution?
I don't know
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?
We saw the disgraceful discussion around 18C which thankfully has been blocked
Do you have any other comments on changing the Constitution to stop racial discrimination?
I would hope that if Sections 25 and 50 have been omitted that should stop racial discrimination. However I am unsure about allowing politicians to decide whether something is racially discriminating.(see comment above). Therefore I guess I'm leaning towa
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?
Composed of representatives that Indigenous people elect.
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
Removing a statement that is offensive and dangerous.
Is there any point in keeping it?
No. Not if we claim to be a democracy.
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual