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Another step in a republican direction
Article by Allison Henry, New Matilda
8 September 2004
Last week a new Senate Committee report offered the most
tangible advancement in the republican debate since the 1999
referendum.
The Senate Legal and Constitutional References
Committee's Inquiry into an Australian Republic was based
on the assumption that there is majority support for a
republic in the community. The inquiry focused on two
questions: what kind of republic do Australians want?
and how should we bring about an Australian republic?
The inquiry received more than 700 written submissions
and involved public hearings around Australia. On 31 August
2004 the committee released its report, The road to a republic.
The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) has welcomed the
committee's key recommendations, many of which reflect the
ARM's preferred process and position on republican models.
The committee has endorsed 'a three-stage consultative,
non-binding process for moving towards an Australian
republic'. It recommends a compulsory initial plebiscite,
to be determined by simple majority vote, asking whether
Australia should become a republic with an Australian head
of state, separating from the British monarchy. If there is
a majority vote in favour of Australia becoming a republic
in this initial vote, the committee recommends a second
compulsory plebiscite to ask what type of republic Australia
should become.
Although the committee considered a 'plethora' of alternative
models for an Australian republic, it stressed that it did not
intend to endorse any one model over others. Instead, it
embraced the proposition that it is ultimately for the
Australian people to decide what kind of republic we should
become. The ARM shares this view.
The structure of the second plebiscite proposed by the
committee reflects this intention: it would be conducted
on a preferential voting basis, with Australians indicating
their preference between five alternative republican models.
These models are broadly aligned with the five submitted
by the ARM in its submission to the committee.
The models suggested by the committee for appointing the
republican head of state are:
- appointment by Prime Minister
- appointment by a two-thirds majority of a joint sitting of federal parliament
- appointment by an electoral college, which has been elected on the same basis as the Senate
- direct election of parliament's candidates, with powers of head of state to be codified
- direct election by the people, with powers of head of state to be codified
The third stage in the committee's proposed process is a
drafting Convention to fine-tune the details of the model
- as based on the second plebiscite results - to be put
to the Australian people in a referendum. This is where
the ARM's preferred process differs from the committee.
While the committee recommends a Convention whose members
are appointed by parliament and comprising constitutional
experts, the ARM instead proposes an elected Convention
that receives advice from Australia's pre-eminent
constitutional experts.
In endorsing the plebiscite approach, the committee has
embraced a considered, democratic and transparent process.
It has also effectively weakened two of the central planks
in the monarchists' armory. By stressing that the whole
process be enshrined in legislation, and by emphasising
that the wording of the initial plebiscite question should
reflect an assurance that Australians will be consulted
in a future plebiscite about what type of republic a
majority of Australians want, the Committee has directly
tackled the so-called 'blank cheque' argument - that
Australians will not vote for a republic without knowing
the details.
In recommending that the plebiscites and referendum
should wherever possible be held to coincide with Federal
elections, the committee has also weakened monarchists'
arguments about the cost of a renewed debate. While the
committee's proposal may ultimately prolong the journey
to an Australian republic, it does minimise the opportunity
for scare campaigns such as that experienced in 1999.
Building on another of the central lessons of the 1999
referendum, the committee has made some innovative
suggestions to improve constitutional education and
engagement within the community, to develop more informed
participation in the next republican debate. Suggested
initiatives include establishing a Parliamentary Joint
Standing Committee on Constitutional Education and
Awareness to oversee ongoing educational programs on
the Australian constitution.
With the federal election campaign in full swing, this
report has been largely overlooked. This is disappointing
but with the likelihood of a republican Prime Minister
ever closer - whether that will be Mark Latham on
October 9 or Peter Costello some time in the future
- the ARM is confident that the republic will soon be
back on Australia's political agenda. When that happens,
last week's report will make a valuable contribution to
the debate.
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