What Are The Arguments Against The Australian Constitution

Our Constitution was written more than a century ago. By then, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had lived in this land for more than 40,000 years. But the Australia’s founding document did not recognize the ATSI people as the first people of this land. This founding document mentioned Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples only to discriminate. Until the 1967 Referendum. This lend to Segregation has cause a rift between Indigenous Australian and non- Indigenous Australian. Even to this day our Constitution still does not recognize the first Australians. And it still says in Section 25 that the States can ban people from voting based on their race.

Oxfam (2015) suggests “75% of Australians would support constitutional reform”,

which will secure better treatment and stronger protection of ATSI people’s unique cultures and spiritual connection to the land.
We are the only country which has not recognize the unique status of their first peoples within their nation’s founding documents.

Constitution recognition and/or treaty for ATSI people

An Panel of Experts suggests if the Aboriginal would be recognized in the Constitutional recognition, the section of 25 or 51 be repealed and should be rewritten with something simple and effective like section of the Australian Constitution “Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”. Another laws should be implemented which should stop racism and discrimination of any kind.

Views

Professor Geoge Williams - They believe that if the Government of Australia is to Constitutional Reform Negate Aboriginal Sovereignty

Professor Geoge Williams support both Constitution recognition and a treaty for ATSI people

He believes that it is wrong to suggest that we should change the Australian constitution. His believes that it is a bit weird to recognize Aboriginal Sovereignty in that of a white settler constitution and it is the wrong and believes that Aboriginal Sovereignty must be expressed by ATSI themselves a treaty rather that

Constitution.

Luke Carroll is an Active member of Recognize who seeking to change the Constitution which could allow where Selection 25 of the constitution which still allows people to be banned from voting based on their race. The document does not recognize their ancient past or the role/impact they had on forging this modern nation.
Craven (2013) said “a single treaty is the wrong approach.” There were 350 Aboriginal tribes or nations who all have distinct identities and a single treaty wouldn’t provide satisfaction for the ATSI peoples.
Most of the major political parties like the Australian Government, the Australian Greens and the Independent members of Parliament all support recognizing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in the Constitution.
Nyunggai Warren Mundine -Categorizing indigenous people as a race made sense to Europeans in the 1700s but it’s not how we look at ourselves.

I’m not part of an “Aboriginal race”. I’m a member of the Bundjalung nation. Nations are not the same as sovereign countries. There are dozens of stateless nations. Constitutional recognition isn’t about race. Nationhood isn’t about race. It’s about the continuation and evolution of culture through a group of people. There’s no other country where Australia’s traditional nations will continue and evolve.

Power structures throughout the 19th century was race based and was controlled by the first white people and the Indigenous Australians had no say in the Constitution and was even excluded even from being counted in the tally of citizens under section 127 of the Constitution. This lend to segregation policies which caused a bigger gap.

Educate non- Indigenous Australians about what happen to them since it is our history and close the gap between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians. Statistics show there is a huge gap in education between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians but programs such as close The Gap are hoping to help Aboriginal employment and receive a higher

education.
We want to see fairness and respect at the heart of our Constitution, and to remove discrimination from it. Our goal is a more united nation. This is a chance for Australia to acknowledge the first chapter of our national story, and to forge our future together united and a single country undivided.
The way reconciliation can best be achieved is by education and with the help from programs like close The Gap and government funded program like RECOGNISE we can increase the health, education and employment. We should educate non- Aboriginal on this appalling chapter of Australian history. I believe that the Constitution should recognize the Aboriginal as the first people of this land like most of the other nations like The United States where it gives rights to the native people.