A simpler approach would be to introduce CIR and re-organize political powers to be secondary to, and actually overridden by referenda at the discretion of numerous high bodies, CIR, or even if a conscience vote were to arise.

Otherwise, re-organize our government to NOT just be a single-party takes-all arrangement- you could either demand all parliamentarians formed government, or better yet, had every ministry office a stand-alone house with a separate ballot each- so you could put a Liberal in the treasury, Greeny in the Health Ministry, Liberal in the Immigration Department etc).

i believe it should be PASSED its use by date

Oh, and when I say "at the discretion of high bodies"- I meant that any high body can INSTANTLY transfer any issue directly to the public; they will also be powerless to override a referendum.

As for the article, it's all a bit of an overstatement really. Politics in Australia is unlikely to change much at all. The people have made it abundantly clear in the past that they don't trust politicians to make changes to the constitution. Any meaningful change will in the end require a referendum and if we are honest you don't seriously expect the politicians to propose a referendum that would detract from their domination of the system.

Ritchie10, Will you leave it alone. I wonder why you bible bashers bother to use a site as such. Here it is hoped one will look at an issue and make considered and rational comment not dream about a fictional super hero and his side kick. Heven and hell are what you live right now and unfortunately most religious types seem to chose hell as they wait for their super hero to take them to nirvana.

Aime, You seem to have it pretty right with most of what you say. Problem is effecting change in this country. Al does have a crusade agains't anything that is not conservative so i have got to the point where i don't worry about it anymore. The Greens will either do well or stuff it up but there is little Al or any of us can do to change it.

Merv09, is this not the third time i have seen you use this same info. Do you have a financial interest in the Cambridge Catalogue.

Well put Niarbe.

One thing's for certain, change will happen. Nothing lasts. In 200 years time we will be governed in a totally different way. Another few hundred years, another different way. Fast forward 50,000 years and you'll see hundreds, if not thousands, of different formulas tried. And along the way there will be heaps of people who are convinced that "their" way is the only way, then that will be replaced by something else again and again and again.

We're strange animals indeed.