Six Models Introduced

The six models are:

1. Prime Minister appoints the President
   This is an ultra-minimalist version, where the Prime Minister appoints the President in precisely the same way as he appoints the Governor-General.
   
   
2. People nominate, Parliament appoints the President
   This is essentially the model proposed in 1999 but with a refinement of the means of removing the President. This would require the President's removal to be effected by a vote of the House of Representatives. The 1999 model is also refined to make the work of the Nominations Committee more open. The Prime Minister would be required to accept a nominee from the Committee's shortlist.
   
   
3. Presidential Assembly appoints the President
   In this model a Presidential Assembly would be elected by the people at every second federal election. It would have 48 members, 6 of whom would be the six State Governors and 42 would be popularly elected. It would have the specific responsibility of choosing a President as and when a vacancy occurred and would call for nominations from the public.
   
   
4. People elect the President
   In this open direct election model there are no limitations on who may stand as President (beyond nomination requirements designed to ensure there are not an unwieldy number of candidates) and with the reserve powers codified along the lines set out in the Republic Advisory Committee Report of 1993.
   
   
5. People Elect from Parliament's List
   In this qualified direct election model, candidates for the Presidency are directly nominated by the people and seven of those nominated are selected by a two thirds majority of a joint sitting of both Houses of the Federal Parliament followed by popular election. The reserve powers would be codified as for model 4.
   
   
6. Executive Presidency
   This is a direct election model with a President who is also the Head of Government. This could be termed a "US style model" but is really provided simply as an example. It is the only model which involves far reaching change and would constitute an abandonment of the Westminster system of responsible government in favour of the American republican system of clearly differentiated branches of Government.