1. PREAMBLE

 

BEFORE WE GET STARTED

1. The decision on how we become a republic is too important to leave to the politicians.
2. This is a ‘work in progress.’ Please contribute your comments at the bottom of each page.
3. Your suggestions will be considered and if useful will contribute to the concept will be worked into the model.
4. Expect these pages to evolve!

FOR THE MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS THERE ARE TWO MAIN ISSUES:

• Should the Prime Minister have sole power to appoint the Head of State?
• Should the people be allowed to elect the Head of State?

There are three popular models:

1. The Margavie Model: Is preferred by politicians because of its minimilist approach, but unfavoured by the people for the lack of direct involvement in the process.

2. Direct Election Model: There are several models that allow direct election by the people, but to the many politicians there are justified concerns that one person could be seen to have too much power.

3. Bi-partisan Model:The model decided upon by the Constitutional Convention for the Referendum of 1999 and was rejected by the people.

Contrary to the monarchists claim that Australia did not want to be a republic, the electorate showed enormous courage and wisdom in rejecting a model that was totally unsatisfactory to them.

ISSUES TO CONSIDER

Australia has a Federal Government based upon the British Westminster System. In this system, there are regions known as electorates  (or seats) where the registered voters may cast a vote for a person to represent them in the House of Representatives. The party that wins the more than 50% of the seats outright; or can form a coalition with another party &/or independent(s) to control more than 50% of the seats, can then form a Government.

The head of the successful party becomes the Prime Minister and as such the main political leader of the country.

But while the Prime Minister (PM) may be the head of the Government, he is in effect, only responsible to his local electorate. 

It is the PM’s own electorate, that ultimately decides the fate of the PM, not the People of Australia. It is possible for a party to win government, and the local electorate to reject the leader of the party – the PM finding himself without a seat, and out of a job.

An good example of this was former Prime Minister John Howard. In the 2007 election he, while Prime Minister lost his seat of Bennelong at the election to Labor’s Maxine McKew. He is just the second Prime Minister of Australia to suffer this ignominious defeat.

The party that has a the most number of seats that could not form a government, becomes the Opposition and the party leader becomes known as the Leader of the Opposition.

The States of Australia have  a similar system – except the leader of the governing party is known as the Premier.

The Prime Minister and the Government should be able to carry out the will of the majority and govern with minimal interference from outside the Parliament.

In the Westminster System there is no one person who is elected by the nation and as such, having enormous political power of “Popular Election” .

Therefore, to have a Direct Election Model where all Australians vote for a Head of State (HOS) will result in literally millions of votes and could be viewed as giving one person too much political clout. 

It is possible the HOS could stand up to the PM and say to the effect, ” But you have just your electorate that voted for you and I have the Majority of Australians.”

This is unacceptable and contrary to the Westminster System.

On the other hand, in an era that is no longer the 1800’s, with all people over the age of 18 being entitled to vote, many Australians demand a say in who is going to be their Head of State.

The real reason that the referendum to become a republic in 1999 failed was not because the majority of Australians are monarchists.

It was rejected at Referendum because the minimalist bipartisan model that was presented to them was unacceptable because the electorate did not have a say.

The ballot paper to the right clearly shows that the Commonwealth Parliament would solely responsible for appointing the President.

Simply put, Australians want to have a say but until a method is reached where the people and politicians both have a say in who becomes the Head of State, it is likely that the impasse will remain for sometime.

THE PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE IS THE STATE ELECTION MODEL. (SEM)

The SEM is a compromise that both the people and politicians would find acceptable.

It is also one that would be uniquely Australian and would give a “fair go” to both the people, politicians and Parliaments of Australia.

In this model, the people elect their candidates on a state by state and territory by territory basis.

When the people have elected the 8 candidates, then the Parliaments of federal, state and territorial governments have a combined meeting to elect the Head Of State from the 8 candidates presented to them by the people.

In this manner, the people give the parliament the choice that the people that they have decided they want as HOS.

Not the other way around where parliamentarians graciously allow people to vote on their choice is like the adults saying to children; “Do you want broccoli or Brussel sprouts for dinner.” Both are unpalatable to nearly all children. As is that 

But we are not childen. Politicians should select from our choice. Not Australian select from their choice; or worse be told in a like it or lump it manner. It is not 1899. And we are no longer British.

This model would enable candidates with representation from the respective governments, political parties, and directly by the people  from the following States and Territories:

States:

• New South Wales
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

Territories

• Australian Capital Territory
• Northern Territory

• as well as including candidates from the ‘External Territories’

There are  three stages:

1. Candidates – The Government, political parties and the people of the 6 states and 2 territories will nominate candidates
2. Elect – The people of each state or territory will go to the polls on a federal election day to elect a representative for their state
3. Select – From the 8 candidates elected by the people, the members of the House of Representatives would select the Head of State

If this model is deemed acceptable to the people of Australia and the politicians, it is then up to the politicians and constitutional lawyers to create the constitutional laws needed to bring it to reality.

This website is putting up an alternative  framework for discussion and asks Australians to contribute their ideas to bring about the reality of the Australian Head of State being an Australian.

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