What is your full name?
Ms Patricia Wendy Rovik
What is your postal code?
2217
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?
Please recognise, at last, that Aboriginal and Torres Straits Peoples were in Australia for more than two thousand years before Europeans came here!
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?
At the Beginning of the Constitution is its place!
What should the statement say?
It should state the arrival of the First Peoples of Australia, when it took place and that they WERE the First Peoples of Australia.
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?
Yes
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?
I would have to think longer about this.
Do you have any other comments on powers to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
We need this to be accomplished on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Straits - or First Nations - Peoples as soon as this is possible!!!
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 present wording seems suitable but if there is a call from Indigenous Peoples for a change, I shall support that!
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?
The Guarantee should be in the Constitution, worded strongly.
Do you have any other comments on changing the Constitution to stop racial discrimination?
The Constitution should guarantee this to us all!!
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?
It would be Elders mostly, but not entirely.
Do you have any other comments on this Indigenous group?
It is First Peoples themselves who need to decide on these things.
Should we delete section 25?
Yes
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
Discrimination against any group.
Is there any point in keeping it?
None.
Do you have any other comments?
Thanks for giving me an opportunity of stating my feelings about this matter of Top Priority in Australia for the sake of its future.
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual