| AN
AUSTRALIAN REPUBLIC
Outline
of the Government's Proposal
|
|
Outline
of the Government's Proposal
On
7 June 1995, the Prime Minister announced the Commonwealth
Government's proposals for an Australian Republic.
The Government's proposal is simply that Australia's Head
of State should be an Australian citizen.
Because it involves a change to our Constitution, this proposal
must be approved at a referendum - which means all Australians
of voting age will have a say. For a referendum to be passed,
a majority of Australians, including a majority in at least
four of the States, have to vote for the proposition that
in future Australia's Head of State will be an Australian.
This is an important issue for the nation, and the Government
looks forward to hearing what Australians have to say about
it. A referendum in 1998 or 1999 has been proposed to allow
plenty of time to consider the issue.
If Australians vote in favour of the proposal, we will celebrate
the centenary of our nationhood in 2001 as a republic.
What
changes are involved?
The
only real change involved in becoming a republic will
be that an Australian citizen, rather than the British
monarch, will be the Australian Head of State.
The Government proposes that an Australian republic retain
the name 'Commonwealth of Australia' and that the Head of
State be called 'President of the Commonwealth of Australia'.
If the Australian people decide upon a republic, the workings
of Australian government will remain unchanged:
- The
people will still elect the members of Parliament and
the Parliament will still make the laws.
- The
day-to-day handling of national government will remain
with Ministers led by the Prime Minister.
- Australia
will remain a federation, and the States will be undiminished
in status and powers.
- Australia
will remain a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Why
introduce a republic?
Australia
is one of the world's oldest democracies. We are approaching
the centenary of our nationhood. The Commonwealth
Government believes that our highest symbolic office
should reflect this maturity and independence and
be occupied by one of our own citizens.
The Government takes the view that only an Australian can
really embody the things which unite us and for which we
stand - Australian experience, Australian values and Australian
aspirations. An Australian Head of State would also be a
much more appropriate unifying symbol, and a much less remote
one, for our culturally diverse population. When travelling
abroad, an Australian President would promote Australia
and Australia's interests, just as The Queen promotes the
interests of the United Kingdom.
The establishment of an Australian republic would signal
neither disrespect for The Queen nor lack of affection for
the United Kingdom. It would rather recognise that our deepest
respect and affection is reserved for Australia.
What
functions would the President have?
The
Government proposes that the President's functions
essentially be those currently performed by the Governor-General
as The Queen's representative.
Most of the President's duties would be symbolic and ceremonial.
For example, he or she would award honours and medals and
attend community functions, as the Governor-General does
now.
The President would also perform the other formal duties
currently performed by the Governor-General, such as appointing
members of government bodies. Like the Governor-General,
the President would follow the advice of the elected Government
when doing this.
The President would also inherit from the Governor-General
a small number of powers in the Constitution which he or
she could exercise without advice from the government, or
even against that advice. These powers, often called the
'reserve' powers, become important in times of constitutional
crisis or uncertainty. On those very rare occasions, the
President could act like a referee. For example, if a Prime
Minister who had lost an election refused to resign, he
or she could be dismissed by the President.
Under the Government's proposals, the Constitution would
require that Australian Presidents be guided in their use
of the reserve powers by the same unwritten conventions
which have guided our Governors-General.
How
would the President be chosen?
At present,
The Queen follows the advice of the Prime Minister
in appointing the Governor-General. The Government
believes that if Australia becomes a republic, the
President should be appointed by a two-thirds majority
of a joint sitting of the two houses of the Federal
Parliament. Such a parliamentary majority would require
support from both the Government and the Opposition,
ensuring that the successful candidate is non-partisan
or 'above politics'.
The Government also proposes that the same non-partisan
vote of a two-thirds majority of both houses should
be the power capable of removing a President in the
unlikely event of serious misconduct.
Why
not elect the President?
In
proposing the appointment of our Head of State by
a two-thirds majority of the popularly elected national
parliament, the Government seeks to preserve Australia's
present system of government. At first glance, the
popular election of the President seems a good idea
- and a democratic one. But in practice, it would
involve radical change and pose real difficulties.
In Australia's system of government, power is shared among
the 147 men and women in the House of Representatives and
the 76 members of the Senate. The Prime Minister and the
Cabinet are not directly elected, but appointed by a majority
of the governing party, and they can be dismissed by the
governing party.
A popularly elected President would come to hold power far
in excess of anyone else in our political system, including
the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. It would seriously alter
the balance on which Australia's Westminster-style system
relies.
Popular election would almost certainly ensure that the
President is a politician. Only the major political parties
would have the organisation, expertise and resources to
win a nationwide election. Many of our most eminent citizens
would not offer themselves as candidates for President if
they had to contest an election.
Who
would be eligible to be President?
Under
the Government's proposal, all Australians could aspire
to be President and each President would be a person
held in high regard by all Australians. The requirements
for eligibility would be that the person to be appointed
is an Australian citizen of voting age.
However, no serving politician would be eligible to
be President, and Commonwealth, State and Territory
politicians would not be able to become Head of State
within five years of leaving Parliament.
The
States
The Government's proposals do not affect the Constitutions
of the States. If the Australian people voted for a republic
at the national level, it would still be up to the States
to decide how to appoint their local heads of state. However,
the Government believes that if the Australian people as
a whole vote for a republic, the States are likely to follow
suit.
The
way forward
The Government's proposal comes after careful consideration
of the issues, including the report of the Republic Advisory
Committee - a non-party report delivered by a group of eminent
Australians who consulted widely around the country. There
remains the need for wide community discussion before the
question is put to the people, and the Government will be
providing information, facilitating debate and listening
to what Australians have to say.
Further
information
The full text of the Prime
Minister's speech and a summary
of all the elements of the Government's proposal is
available without charge through Commonwealth Government
Bookshops.
