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Why we need a new constitution
Bede Harris | August 27, 2020In a book to be launched this week by John Hewson, Bede Harris argues that the Commonwealth constitution is so defective that we need an entirely new one.
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Constitutional change is hard for good reason
Anne Twomey | July 24, 2019Constitutional change in Australia is always an uphill battle, but that is no reason to shirk it. Instead, it should be a spur to produce better proposals for constitutional change, develop strong and clear arguments for reform, cultivate widespread public support and undertake vigorous, but honest, campaigns.
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Young Australians champion freedom and democracy in designing constitutional change
John Warhurst | June 18, 2019120 high school students from around Australia met in Canberra for the 24th National Schools Constitutional Convention. The new preamble for the constitution they drafted spoke to their current concerns and plans for the future.
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A constitution shaped by distance
Adrienne Stone | May 27, 2018While many constitutions are informed by the influences of history, politics and culture; it’s the influence of geography, and in particular, of distance, that has helped to shape the Australian Constitution.
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Half baked anti-Cook sentiment won’t encourage reconciliation
Max Thomas | May 22, 2018While some have criticised the Cook landing anniversary project as outdated colonial baggage, it may well serve to raise awareness among all Australians about the need for reconciliation as an essential and integral part of our growth as a nation.
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Yes, we can…rewrite the Australian constitution
Klaas Woldring | May 13, 2018The recent furore over dual citizenship in Parliament raises deeper questions about the relevance of Australia’s archaic constitution to the nation today. Rather than another round of pointless by-elections, a new electoral system is required to refresh and reinvigorate Australia’s toxic politics.
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Replacing Federation: Why and with what?
Klaas Woldring | November 14, 2017Is it time to move on from federation? Constitutional expert Klaas Woldring argues that there are 3 major reasons to update the order and suggests a more productive model of government would be a two-tier system.
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Australian citizenship – who is in and who is out?
Dominic O'Sullivan | August 1, 2017Recent activity in the Australian Senate has us questioning who is Australian? Australia shares high level national security information with some of the jurisdictions that Canavan, Ludlam, Waters and perhaps Banks and Roberts hold citizenship with, yet we find their citizens threatening. Dominic O’Sullivan considers.