The Australian constitution does not currently reference Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The federal government created a council to explore holding a referendum on the subject in May 2017. Proponents, including Prime Minister Turnbull, argue that the original inhabitants of Australia should be recognized in the constitution and all racial elements should be removed. Opponents argue that the government resources should not be wasted on holding a referendum.
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@593R4MJ4yrs4Y
To be honest, Im sick of recognizing Aboriginal people. this country is going to end up being run by Aboriginals soon and the white man will be a second class citizen. Hell we can't even claim racism when an Aboriginal calls us whiteys or crackers or honky or any racial slur.
@8F6MYPM4yrs4Y
It should mention all people
@4X989LW4yrs4Y
They should recognise all religions and cultures but provide no benefit for any as we are all Australian.
@9727M252yrs2Y
No. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are Australian and therefore they are already recognised. By creating a specific reference, category or any other separation/segregation from being 'Australian' is a form of apartheid.
No, Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders are Australian, thus I would argue they are recognized and represented, even if not by name. The constitution doesn't need to change.
It's important, but a referendum is incredibly expensive to hold. It would be more efficient to actually do something that would provide resources that would actually help someone, and serve more of a purpose than just sit there as a token gesture.
@B3QG99Y3 days3D
No; the constitution is a set of laws and ideals that should affect all citizens equally. No one demographic should be singled out for special treatment. Doing so only increases the potential for discriminatory behaviour, not the reverse. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders deserve their history and contributions acknowledged, and the abuses done to them addressed in meaningful and compensatory ways, but not indefinitely, and not written into the very fabric of society.
@B3HK8FB1wk1W
yes, but it should only create an environment for them to feel safe from racism and other prejudice, rather than leveraging them into positions of power that already have representation
@B25CCVB3mos3MO
It already recognises them. Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders are Australians. And the Australian constitution is for Australians.
We should encourage unity in our language. We are all Australians as far as the National Government is concerned
@9WNBX8Z5mos5MO
It already does it Says that the constitution is for all Australians, including indigenous ones already
@9W7FMBV5mos5MO
Yes, but only those who consider themselves federation Australian citizens, people who only see themselves as Aboriginal should just be that.
@9VYHRZ55mos5MO
No, the government should not specially recognise any racial group, as everyone should be seen as equal before the law and the constitution.
@9VYFGNV5mos5MO
Should a non corrupt body be placed in parliament that can not be abolished that has equal powers as any party or politician and enable evolution of democracy.
The constitution already recognises all people as it is guided and underpinned by equality of citizenship
@9TQ6P2F6mos6MO
Yes, but I’d prefer to do something which would actually help marginalised people like indigenous Australians
@9TKSK4D6mos6MO
Yes but more broadly to ensure all Australians regardless of background. Which I believe is already in the constitution.
Yes, but I would prefer to do something to actually help indigenous Australians, rather than spending a lot on a referendum
@9GD5S5L1yr1Y
I believe recognition is important via opportunities and funding. the constitution will does not effect recognition for any individual. its on the basis of a whole nation.
@9G9KR951yr1Y
yes but recognise them as Australian's, don't divide Aboriginals and Torres strait islander people from white Australians, make us all equal.
how are they represented in it? i believe that it shouldnt give them advantages over everyone else. everyone should be treated the same.
@9FFS62Y1yr1Y
yes but they should be treated equally if they commit a crime
@9FBCTNW1yr1Y
what they mean by recognise
@B35DK7G3wks3W
The constitution seems to be mostly overridden in any case the politicians will just do as they please. By adding the aboriginal people into the constitution it means that they can be further exploited than certainly not. Sorry, not sorry right?
@B2ZHWGD4wks4W
The constitution should recognise ATSI rights to local autonomy as part of a Treaty, however it should not provide centralised power on the basis of forced diversity.
If they contribute to society and stop making colonization a generational problem. Then “Yes” it’s not about history iota about the future for the country.
@B2S6WLP1mo1MO
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should have the same opportunities as any other race does.
@B2J5P8H2mos2MO
No, refer to everyone as australian, if they do not see themselves as australian in australia.. they need to leave regardless of ethnicity
@B2HKC4Z2mos2MO
Absolutely not. Australian citizens should be recognised equally no matter their ethnicity. Creating a distinction in the constitution enshrines racism in the country's core document and ensures racism as Australia's future
@B2FTPK3 2mos2MO
Yes, but only if the abilities granted by their constitutional recognition are made clear and voted on.
@B2DVYCF2mos2MO
It's contradictory to want to 'remove all racial elements' and want to recognise a racial group. Race doesn't belong in the constitution.
@9QZKYGX8mos8MO
As long as Australia categorises Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders as "another kind", I feel it's wrong. We're all citizens from this land or legally migrated otherwise
@9QRFMPC8mos8MO
Worded only in a way that brings all Australians together instead of dividing aboriginal people further
@9MNDJZK10mos10MO
No because we need to treat them as equals to the rest of us, not higher than us or more privileged but not lower than us and treated like they are a different creature.
A new document should be created to stand alongside the constitution to correctly reflect modern Australia and our next chapter as a nation moving forward. This document should recognise First Nations.
@9MB47WJ10mos10MO
The constitution need to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Islander people as original custodians of the land and acknowledge they need help bridging the gap, but this needs to be done fairly not expending the rights of other Australian citizens
Yes, but they should be treated the same way as other people in terms of criminality. They shouldn't be let off easier for the things they do to Australian citizens.
"Yes, but we shouldn't let them take control. It would be very easy for them to go up to a house or business they want and claim that it's their land, leaving the owners with nothing. We may have treated them poorly in the past, but we have made every effort to apologize. However, they continue to engage in drug use and other negative activities, which only serves to perpetuate a bad reputation and promote racism."
@9M4QCVC10mos10MO
Recognise but don’t segregate. All people deserve the same rights. No law should be added based on race
They should have the same level of citizenship of any other Australian citizen but should not have a voice in parliament restricted to indigenous people.
@9KVQR7Q12mos12MO
Yes, but in a manner that recognises first nations people without incorporating race-based rights into our constitution.
Aboriginal and Torres trait Island peoples should be equal in the community. They should practice their culture and be respected but more diversity between in the community isn't needed.
there are many things to consider however, it should not matter the race of who is in the constitution but rather the qualifications.
IF that is most necessary. Even though the land originally is owned by them. WE as Australians have considered this country to be an open diversity all culture so it is only fair everyone is put or no one is put in the constitution.
The constitution should recognize the harm done to these communities, but not place an overly large emphasis on said communities as to no ostracize them from the other denizens of the country.
Recognised of sites that are holy to them etc. not give them influential voices that could damage national progress due to race.
@9GL9J27 1yr1Y
the aboriginals should be recognised but not given special treatment as it was their ancestors not them
@God's-girl 1yr1Y
Depending on what for if it is just letting them into government then no not at all but if it is to prob people to learn Australia's history from them ten yes
@9DT99G52yrs2Y
@9DNJPSJ2yrs2Y
I am still yet to understand how the Voice Benefits indigineous people - It seems to me that its just adding another bloated bureacracy and will do nothing to help those people that need help - it seems very City Centric and ignores those in the bush
we shouldn't separate people by race and colour just be one species
@9D7SSHM2yrs2Y
NO, they already have as much if not more of a voice as i do
They should only be treated as citizens, not classified as other.
Yes but not specifically. I want a constitution that recognises human beings, not race or ethnicity.
@92LYFCK3yrs3Y
No because they are foreigners and therefore second class citizens.
@927T2ZZ3yrs3Y
No, the constitution should only recognise "Australians" and make no mention of belonging in Australia as an aspect of race, religious belief etc
@9BNPBKV2yrs2Y
Yes, but we should have a constitution that recognises people as human's not by their race or ethnicity.
@99Z6WPS2yrs2Y
Yes, but not specifically
@96PPD8C2yrs2Y
with consultation with aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people
@96FVK5J2yrs2Y
They are citizens of Australia, but should have no special privileges
All people residing in Australia should be recognised in the constitution.
@967ZZPY2yrs2Y
colour and race should be irrelevant. It should really depend on the person themselves. Which includes many factors.
@967Y6ZG2yrs2Y
yes, but it should be limited
@96753DH2yrs2Y
Yes, but hold no referendum.
@95VKDBL2yrs2Y
No, they are already recognised as Australian citizens.
@95LFXG92yrs2Y
Everyone should be treated equally
@95DLCMG2yrs2Y
they should but they shouldn't be given extra privileges
@95DL47J2yrs2Y
They should be recognised equally
Yes Absolutely they are the owners of our land
@94CWB6Z3yrs3Y
No, because it sets them apart from every other Australian and will allow governments to treat them differently.
It recognises "Australians", which is everyone living in Australia, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. So they are not discriminated or excluded anyway.
@93Y3BRYOne Nation3yrs3Y
It’s time to recognise the person, regardless of race, age or gender.
@93FPNVW3yrs3Y
No they are people just like everyone else. They don't deserve special treatment just because there indigenous.
@9366QNH3yrs3Y
@9366BTW3yrs3Y
yes should acknowledge them but how right affect them too.
@933DL863yrs3Y
We ought to establish treaties and recognition for first nations peoples
@93372373yrs3Y
Our constitution already includes them
@9336Y783yrs3Y
Treaded the same as everyone else
Two part answer. Aboriginal and Torres Straight islanders should have all the same rights and obligations as all Australians. Hence, we should be under the one banner as all Australians..
@92Z9R5Q3yrs3Y
No we are one country and should not be segregated
@92YPBN93yrs3Y
Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders should be treated as fully fledged Austrslians and offerded all the same rights and freedoms. As Australians there should be no need for forms to contain Heritage questions such as 'are you Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander, nor should there be a need to indicate this.
Yes as long as they contribute to the economy
@92Y7SHG3yrs3Y
They already get recognised enough.
@92XRHRD3yrs3Y
No race should be referenced in the constitution
@92XCTB43yrs3Y
Yes but we shouldn’t have to pay for them to live as it was not our fault for what happened in the past
@92X3J853yrs3Y
I think all Australian citizens should be recognised the same regardless of their heritage, after all, we are all Australians aren't we?
@92WGVZH3yrs3Y
To a degree, yes they are the First Nations people, and they are recognised as a big part of Australian culture but what more must the people of today do to please everyone?
should recognise all people
@92TRHJR3yrs3Y
Yes, this is not our country.
@92SZ4QP3yrs3Y
The constitution should not have anything specially about race in it
@92SX2QF3yrs3Y
Sovereignty, not reconciliation
@92ST8CQ3yrs3Y
Yes...providing they conform and stop beggibn and whingeing.
@92RZWMGLiberal Democrat3yrs3Y
There are more important issues to worry about
Fair to all people.
There should be a limit to how much special treatment they get for their culture as we welcome all different culture but also now welcome all different genders types, etc and they get their own version of racism but also be tougher on racism that is affecting people lives.
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