Sarina Russo Address to the Constitutional Convention Old Parliament House, Canberra Monday 9 February, 1998 Sarina Russo is an ARM Delegate from Queensland

Mr Chairman and fellow delegates: I am very honoured to be here with such a distinguished gathering of eminent Australians who have all contributed in some way to a better future for our country. I would firstly thank the constituents who voted for me and Michael Lavarch's team in Queensland. I am a business woman. I am an educator and a trainer. I have been in business for something like 18 years. I started a little typing school of something like nine students, and now it has grown to become one of the largest privately owned colleges in Queensland.

I speak today because I am very passionate as an individual. This probably flowed from my late father, Antonio Russo. He made a great decision when he decided to leave the small Italian town of Castiglione and bring our family to Australia. He had a vision. He had a dream. He was looking to the future, just like all of us today.

For any Italian speaking Australians who are listening to us at this moment: ho sempre avuta molto energia e passione per la vita. Probalimente ho preso questa energia dal mio padre Antonino Russo, defunto. Lui, ha scelto bene a lasciare Castiglione e venire in Australia. Lui aveva un sogno - Quardava al futuro - esattamente come tutti noi oggi quardiamo al futuro.

I want the best for Australia. I agree that our current system of government works very well. But this is not a reason for complacency. Let us all take the first step and make our Constitution correct, contemporary and visionary. Why can't we have something that can be taught in our primary schools? If the Constitution were simple, it could be taught in our primary schools and, therefore, be better understood - in fact, it would really have helped me a lot.

The current system of government can be kept essentially as it is but let us get our Constitution right. Let us aim for our current needs and wants. Do not be deceived by the status quo. Maintaining the status quo is deceptively easy and an excuse for complacency; it is comfortable, predictable and fully understood but it does not necessarily reflect the world today.

Would you run a business and keep doing the same thing forever? As with any business, just because something is working does not mean it cannot be improved or modernised to reflect the changing marketplace. We all strive to improve our lives, our business, our pleasure and our happiness. Why can't we update our Constitution too? Convince me that it does not affect you. Well, it does. Consider decisions of the High Court of Australia - Mabo, for example.

The High Court will regularly make decisions that affect everyone. Furthermore, the more intangible things like spirit, nationhood, independence and identity affect everyone. So it does affect you. There are three issues which I feel passionate about in our consideration of constitutional reform. These are, first, our heritage, second, our society and, third, our future. I would like to address each of these issues briefly.

Our heritage: we are not denying our British heritage but are proud of it. Just like we are all proud of the Italian, Greek, Irish, Vietnamese, Indian, Aboriginal, American and all the other origins that make up this great nation. At the time our Constitution was put together British heritage had a significant influence on the Australian way of life. This is no longer true and flies in the face of the great diversity that this nation now possesses.

Accordingly, the Constitution is unrepresentative of our true heritage and culture as it exists today. It preserves and embodies a single British culture. I ask all delegates a simple question: how can we promote diversity and multiculturalism when the very legal foundation of our great country promotes one culture only?

I know from business experience that the people of Australia are our greatest asset. The diversity of our people provides us with an even greater ability to relate to the rest of the world and to take advantage of the broader range of initiative and thinking which our diverse people give us. Those millions of Australians who have brought to us their culture and heritage should all be able to take pride in an Australia which reflects our society today and a system of government which truly represents us all.

Our society: in Australia, we have developed a true egalitarian society. Any person can aspire to reach the top in their chosen field of endeavour and be recognised for it. Being an outstanding sports person, a successful business entrepreneur, an internationally recognised research scientist or even an influential politician is achievable by any Australian. It does not depend on which family you may have been born into. Australians recognise and reward people for their efforts and contribution. We have created a society where any person can achieve their best and become a leader in their field. Once we become a republic we can aspire to be our head of state.

Our future: through our geographic position, we are linked with the Asia-Pacific region. Countries in this region are now critical to our trade and economic wellbeing. We still have many barriers to overcome in our efforts to be recognised as part of Asia. I know from many contacts in Asia, through my own personal experience, that there are still some lingering doubts about our genuine desire to forge close links with the region because of the image we sometimes project.

So I ask the question: why can't we look to the future? Why can't we be visionaries? Why can't we grow and move forward as a republic into the new millennium? If we are to overcome these barriers and project ourselves as a nation, wherever it might be in the world, we need to be certain about what and who we are. We need to be able to promote ourselves as a dynamic, independent country with a head of state who will only promote Australia.

What about our children? Let us all stop for one second and think about someone else. I will think about my six-year-old nephew Michael Panisi. Let us all forget our opinions for just one minute. What kind of environment do we want to create for the next generation? Should it be one that promotes independence, vision and identity? Let us offer them Australia as a republic with an Australian as its head of state.

Is a republic really important? The image, identity, personality and fundamental character of the Australian nation is important. Becoming a republic will not only psychologically change the mind-set of Australians but also improve the perception of Australia as an independent nation.

People will only trade with Australia if they can make money. But the demand for Australian goods, the reason for buying Australian, is not so simple. The brand name of Australia must be persuasive. Recent research shows that 80 per cent of 100 business people surveyed believe that once we become a republic we will increase our export revenue by billions of dollars. I am convinced that this is definitely true.

From the good work that was achieved here last week, I am very optimistic about Australia becoming a republic. The difficult issue we are facing this week is working together to put up the right model for electing the head of state that will be accepted by the Prime Minister, government and, of course, the people of Australia.

I would like to conclude that, while our current system has served us well in the past, it is time to see how we can improve the system to serve us even better and to compete in the challenging world yet to come. Our future is dependent upon how we perceive ourselves and our head of state. I am a fiercely proud Australian of Italian heritage who believes we are achievers in our own right and strongly believe that as a republic we can all make Australia an even better country for all of us and our future generations.