Peter Machell
(redacted)
EATONS HILL QLD 4037
To Co-Design Body
Co-design process: Submission for Peter Machell
I'm an ordinary Australian. Hard working, small business owner. I employ 15 people.
Why do you think the Uluru Statement from the Heart is important?
Apart from being a beautiful summation of the plight of first nations people, it provides an path to actual reconciliation. We have the oldest culture in the world it is something that should be celebrated. New Zealand does this much better than we do. I would like my children to grow up in a country that embraces both sides of its history.
Why do you think it's important to enshrine the Voice to Parliament in the Constitution, rather than include it only in legislation?
More than that, we need black fellas inside parliament house, and this needs to be the new normal. They've been kept out in the Canberra cold for way too long. Let's use the constitution to right this, and put our country's soul back into our capital.
Why is it important for Indigenous people to have a say in the matters that affect them?
Simply, money has failed to solve issues plaguing first nations people. While some gains have been made to close some gaps, white Australia has failed to make near enough progress with these deeply cultural problems.
How could a Voice to Parliament improve the lives of your community?
We need a community wide change of attitude towards indigenous people. Giving them some control over their destiny is the first step required for this change.
Structural change is hard to achieve, but much of this work has already been done. Australia is crying out for strong leadership to bring about permanent change.
Thank you,
Peter Machell
