our proposals:

• To advocate for a National Referendum to amend Section 51 (xxvi) of the Australian Constitution.

  • Currently, Section 51 (xxvi) of the Australian Constitution states ‘The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to: the people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws’.

  • This is otherwise known as the ‘race clause’ of the Constitution.

  • We believe a National referendum should be held to propose this section to be reworded to: ‘No Government, nor any Government funded agency, at Federal, State, Territory or Local level within the Commonwealth of Australia may make laws or construct regulations that discriminate on the basis of a citizen's race, gender or ancestral heritage.  To this end, all citizens, regardless of race, gender or ancestral heritage, shall be treated exactly the same under the law and shall be entitled to whatever benefits their circumstances might entitle under those laws and regulations.’

• To reform the Senate of Australia by banning any party affiliation of Senators, to ensure the Senate is a true ‘house of review’.

  • We believe that all Senators should be Independents, elected on their own merit, rather because of their party affiliation.

  • We believe that as the Government is formed in the House of Representatives (Lower House), it is unnecessary for Senators to have party affiliation in the Senate (Upper House).

  • Currently, party affiliation dictates the operations of the Senate. We believe this is unnecessary, as Senators should be reviewing legislation based on the interests of their constituents, rather than the will of their political party.

• To push for a National Referendum to advocate for the election, by popular vote, of the both the Governor-General and Attorney-General of Australia.

  • Currently, the Prime Minister selects both the Governor-General and the Attorney-General. We believe that this is not a clear separation of powers between the Legislature and the Executive branches.

  • Chapter II of the Constitution states that the power of the Commonwealth is vested in the Crown and is exercisable by the Governor-General as the Crown’s representative. There is no specific mention of the Prime Minister, nor any other Member of Parliament.

  • We believe to have a true separation of powers, then the Prime Minister, or any members of the Parliament, should have no power in selecting the Governor-General. Therefore, that decision must fall to the Australian People.

  • The Governor-General should run the Executive and select Ministers based on merit.

• State Constitutions should only be altered by public referendum.

  • Unlike the Australian Constitution, which can only be changed by a successful referendum vote, State Constitutions can be changed via legislation passed thru Parliament.

  • We believe that this is a fundamental flaw in our system and should be rectified. Constitutions are contracts between Parliaments and the people they represent. Therefore, it is fundamental that the power to alter State Constitutions should be taken out of the hands of State Parliamentarians and placed into the hands of the People.