What is your full name?
Monique Mahony
What is your postal code?
3056
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 Australian Constitution should recognise the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first sovereign peoples of this land, and include them as equal in rights and law. The constitution should also accept and encourage the participation in s
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.
What should the statement say?
I don't know at this point.
Do you have any other comments on a statement about the First Peoples of Australia?
I do believe that an apology should be given within the Australian Constitution to the first peoples of this land for not acknowledging them as the owners and leaders of this country, when white people first came to Australia. And for not negotiating in a
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?
I am not sure of the word usage. But I do believe that where various Aboriginal & Torres Straight Islander people need special assistance due to the negative effect of colonization or current Australian laws and culture have had and do currently have on t
Do you have any other comments on powers to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
No, thank you.
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 do believe that it needs to include "ALL" peoples of any "EVERY" race, culture and religion.
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?
I am not sure.
Do you have any other comments on changing the Constitution to stop racial discrimination?
No
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?
I don't know
Do you have any ideas about what the new group would look like?
Aboriginal & Torres Straight Islander people should have voting rights in Parliament just as the House votes on important issues. currently.
Do you have any other comments on this Indigenous group?
Non of these changes may make a difference if the Aboriginal & Torres Straight Islander group that is set up don't get to vote when bills and laws are being past with the rest of the government members, since they will be relying on those who have not liv
Should we delete section 25?
No
What would we achieve by getting rid of section 25?
Everyone who is an Australian tax paying citizen, whether Aboriginal, Torres Straight Islander or from any other part of the world, should always have the right to vote.
Is there any point in keeping it?
I don't know what the rest of section 25 contains and so I don't believe I should answer this.
Do you have any other comments?
No
Are you making a submission on behalf of a person (such as yourself) or organisation?
Individual