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"In
love, unlike politics, caution is not usually a virtue.
I was neither confident enough to think that I might
succeed or secure enough to bear the sense of failure
if I did not."
This reflection on the distinction between matters of
the heart and matters of politics by Nelson Mandela,
in his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom,
may hold an unlikely lesson for all of us as we consider
the question of an Australian Head of State.
It could be credibly asserted that the issue of an Australian
head of State has more to do with love of our country
than it has to do with politics. Yet in many ways, as
a nation, we are approaching the issue with the caution
of politics where we lack the confidence "to think that
we might succeed".
As long as the issue is approached with a genuine intent
to preserve the essential principles and conventions
contained in our Constitution, then the question of
an Australian head of State becomes a matter where eventually
we must collectively back our instincts.
I think I have long shared the instincts of most Australians
who in their hearts feel It is time that we had our
very own Australian head of State who reigns but does
not rule.
Sadly the issue has been highly politicised over recent
years, especially by Paul Keating. The issue must be
de-politicised if people - notably Coalition supporters
- are to be free to truly follow their Instincts.
While greatly respecting and valuing the role the monarchy
has played throughout our short history, the fact remains
that, as a country, we have grown away from the monarchy.
When I was a kid 35 to 40 years ago the Queen was clearly
Australia's cultural figurehead. Her picture hung on
many a wall, every Monday morning you saluted the flag
and gave praise to God, Queen and country, you sang
God Save the Queen, you toasted Her Majesty,
a royal visit was an event of great moment. Back then
the Queen was indisputably the cultural anchor for our
community. But not any more, and it has left a serious
vacuum.
A stable, peaceful, confident country needs a cultural
figurehead. A person who reigns for the people, but
is above ruling politics, can engender a great spirit
of unity, pride and purpose in a nation. Today that
role can only be filled by an Australian head of State.
To delay is to deny the great benefits that would follow.
Where politics would derail the process is if the quest
for an Australian head of State is used by some as a
Trojan Horse for other hidden agendas involving a push
for greater central government or a raft of other changes
to the working of our Constitution.
As it is, the authority of the States has dangerously
diminished over time to a point clearly at odds with
the intention of the founding fathers of our Constitution,
and at odds with Australia's best interests.
Our Constitution has served Australia wonderfully well.
In my view, any move to tie the head of State issue
to other changes that would result in the remolding
of key constitutional principles would comprehensively
sabotage the proposal for an Australian head of state.
The preservation of the essential principles and conventions
contained in our Constitution is a fundamental and necessary
condition for any majority support for the establishment
of an Australian head of State.
It is for these reasons that I have been a member for
some years of the Samuel Griffith Society, an organisation
established in 1992 to promote our federal system and
defend the Constitution. I am equally passionate and
determined about maintaining and strengthening the federal
system as I am about the merit of an Australian as Head
of State.
There is no conflict between these two objectives. A
true conservative can be passionate about the importance
of an Australian as our Head of State. I will continue
to promote my support for an Australian Head of State
through the Samuel Griffith Society.
The people's convention planned for early 1998 provides
a momentous opportunity to build the confidence that
we can succeed If we were to bite the bullet on this
issue.
The composition of delegates to the convention may be
a little tilted towards those who oppose the introduction
of an Australian Head of State. While the panel of federal
government nominees is well balanced, my campaign experience
suggests that the pro-Australian head of State candidates
in the ballot for the elected delegates will do well
to secure 20 per cent of the elected positions.
People always are more motivated to vote against things
than to vote for things. So with the voluntary voting
system I expect the opponents of an Australian head
of State will be far more motivated to turn out to vote.
Notwithstanding this eventuality the balance of numbers
is of no material consequence. The Important thing will
be the event itself and the opportunity for many outstanding
Australians from all walks life to focus on the singular
significance installing our own Head of State.
The convention can only act as catalyst to bring Australians
to an eve greater realisation that what is in the hearts
is a good and sensible thing, and what's more, that
there is no reason not begin to move towards its introduction.
To paraphrase Mandela's reflection again, the people's
convention will n only instil confidence enough to that
that we might succeed in bringing about an Australian
head of State, but also he us to be secure enough to
bear the sense of failure if we do not.
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