Foundation for National Renewal

Federal Election October 2004: Which Candidates Trust the People?

THE MODEL CONSTITUTION

In conjunction with our role of stimulating education and debate on constitutional issues, the Foundation is in the process of crafting a “Model Constitution” for Australia.  The aim is to craft a constitution that will articulate exactly the sort of society Australians would aspire to if we could ‘start from scratch’.  To do this, we are involving Australians from all walks of life including those from NES and ATSI backgrounds.  (Our society is no longer the mono-cultural society our current Constitution was drafted to serve.)

The purpose of this ‘Model Constitution’ is to provide a focus and a context for future debate on amendment or replacement of the existing Constitution.

As each item of the ‘Model Constitution’  comes up for discussion during the crafting process, the Foundation issues a discussion paper. These papers usually include:

1. What our current Constitution says on each  subject and a plain language explanation of what it means.
2. Several views on what deficiencies, if any, are perceived.
3. What a number of other constitutions say on the matter.
4. Perhaps some suggestions as to what a ‘Model Constitution’ might say.

The Model Constitution process is well under way. Topics on which members have expressed their views include:

Task 1: The Preamble
Task 2: A Table of Contents
Task 3: Definitions
Task 4: Citizen Rights and Responsibilities
Task 5. Basic Laws of Society
Task 6. Amending the Constitution
Task 7. Structure of Government
Task 8. Delivery of Government Services
Task 9. Elections
Task 10. Electorates and Voting Systems
Task 11. The Executive
Task 12. Regional Parliaments
Task 13. The Courts
Task 14. Trial by Jury
Task 15. International Treaties
Task 16. Taxation
Task 17. War and Other Emergencies
Task 18. The National Parliament
Task 19. National MPs - Election and Remuneration
Task 20. Enhanced Representation
Task 21. Ownership, Control and Exploitation of Australia's Natural Resources
Task 22. The Governor General
Task 23. Citizen Initiated Constitutional Change
Task 24. Election/Appointment of the Governor General
Task 25. Fiscal Arrangements
Task 26. Banking and International Trade
Task 27. Indigenous People
Task 28. Delineating Regions
Task 29. Elect the President
Task 30. The Penal System
Task 31. Amending the Constitution: Candidate Pledges
Task 32. Monarchy or Republic?
Task 33. The Media
Task 34. The Monetary System

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Last updated: 10 September 2007