We don't need a new constitution. We simply need for the elite to do what the current one says. The only reason anyone wants to remove something and replace it with something else is so they can gain from it's replacement. Always worded to benefit them and their mates. The public will not be given any consideration in any new constitution. As it is I am disappointed that we have changed it at all over the years, (for the worst).

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Dear Brendan,

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There comes a time when there are so many holes in the rusty old bucket that you just can’t fix it anymore.

Our old colonial constitution was drafted in the 1890’s. Population was about 3.5 million in those days. But we are no longer a British colony. We abandoned the White Australia policy in 1973 and have since become one of the world’s most multicultural societies.

According to the federal government web site :

« At Federation in 1901, ‘British subject’ was the sole civic status noted in the Australian Constitution … Throughout the 1960s, Australian citizens were still required to declare their nationality as British. The term ‘Australian nationality’ had no official recognition or meaning until the Act was amended in 1969 and renamed the Citizenship Act. This followed a growing sense of Australian nationalism and the declining importance for Australians of the British Empire. In 1973 the Act was renamed the Australian Citizenship Act. It was not until 1984 that Australian citizens ceased to be British subjects ».

Our rusty old bucket (the constitution) is so old and fragile it is full of holes and beyond repair. Freedom of expression (speech, cartoons, etc.) has fallen through one of them. The Prime Minister has fallen through another one. There is nothing in the constitution about a Prime Minister. It says the British Crown is the head of state.

We tried to patch it up 44 times since it was drafted 120 years ago but only succeeded 8 times.

The only way it can be fixed is by referendum and that’s almost certain to fail. Howard knew that. That’s why he used it to preserve royalty and prevent the country from becoming a republic.

Nevertheless, the only sensible thing to do would be to wrap our old colonial constitution in fine silk tissue paper (just plain white would be nice) to carefully conserve all the dusty bits and pieces - and get a new one.

That won’t happen until we decide to become a republic. For that, we need more non-British Australians.

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Banjo, firstly I do not mind being beholding to Britain. Politicians being so dishonest and corrupt, I like the feeling of having 'Mummy' to go crying to when something is not right. To me it's the same as writing a new Bible. The rules are set and do not change with time. We must not give in to some fantasy promoted by the Republican movement. We, the people, are protected by our current constitution. If we give in to the pressure by the Republicans, we will lose any protections we so desperately need today. No Banjo, leave the bucket alone, I think you may need to have a closer look at it and see that it's not so bad after all. I will guarantee you, if we get a new bucket, it will not hold as much water, we will be paying to constantly have it repaired, and it will only be used to carry water for the people when it's not being used to carry water for the elite. In fact the people will get punished for any attempt to demand more access to the new bucket. NO to a republic thanks.

Let's be clear. we are the most multicultural society on the planet? And we come from over a 140 different nationalities.

26% of us were born overseas, and 45% of us have at least one parent born elsewhere. That leaves just 29% who are unaffected by the old archaic constitution!

Why even some black fellas would be ruled out by the provisions of section 44?

Take Big Nana, my favourite poster. her indigenous kids could fail even though able to trace their native born ancestry back some 60,000 years! Why?

Because according to her, their mum is of Japanese origin? And would still be in trouble if just one grandparent were born elsewhere?

My Point being, if any part of the indigenous population can be excluded on grounds only appropriate the turn of the century?

Which by the way, back then, never ever excluded Kiwis Or Canucks or Indians or South Africans or indeed any member of the then British empire! Where today the same "unaltered" document excludes every last one of them!

Even those born here but with a foreign born parent and or, in some cases, even a grandparent or great grandparent, or great great grandparent?

All while our head of state is a foreign national!

Anyone not completely confused or satisfied with this dogs breakfast of a constitution, simply has to have manure for brains?

If it ain't broke don't fix it! If it is little more than a ruin with a roof? Pull the whole rotten edifice down and rebuild to comply with the express wishes and will of the majority!

Otherwise just click your heels raise a stiff right arm and say, seig hiel.

On a brighter note, even newly arrived, brand new Australians not only get to vote but are required to by law to do just that!

So where does that leave the remaining 29% and what they want? Which probably includes Diver runner and their meritorious mate ttbn? Hahahaha!
Alan B.

Nonsense, Alan B.

That 26% born overseas includes my wife.

Not surprisingly, her parents were born overseas also, so she is included in the 45% figure.

So she figures in both categories so you have counted her twice.

I can state with certainty that there is only one of her.

I'd be very surprised if most of those born overseas did not have a foreign parent.

A simple Venn Diagram would show most of the "born there" set overlays the circle representing the 45% "parents from there" set.

Elsewhere I have read that the combined set includes 51% of Aussies, which seems to make sense.

I'm convinced that the remaining pool of 10 million or so Aussies includes at least 226 aspiring Federal politicians who could do the job far better than the current crop.

Dear Banjo Paterson, and Alan B.,

I totally agree with you both.

Change needs to happen. But who's going to have
the gumption to do it? And more to the point - when?