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A new Constitution for Australia? (Read 1816 times)
Auggie
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A new Constitution for Australia?
Aug 22nd, 2016 at 4:34pm
 
Hi all,

I think one of the things we don't often talk about in Australian politics is political reform. Politicians expect us to follow rules, so it's only fair that they follow rules as well. The only way to do this is via the Constitution. Don't forget that the Constitution is a legal document, and is the supreme law of the land; if it says that something is not allowed, then it's not allowed and no law passed by the Parliament can conflict with it.

For e.g. I think there should be term limits for members of Parliament; no senator or member should serve more than 12 years in his or her lifetime. This would help with constant rotation, and prevent the 'career-politician' that we hate so much.

I also wonder what you guys think about adopting an American-style separation of powers system for Australia? I'm happy to go into details if anyone is interested.
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Valkie
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #1 - Aug 22nd, 2016 at 4:50pm
 
Can we separate the heads from their bodies after they have finished their terms?

Now that's a reform Id like to see
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I HAVE A DREAM
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A DREAM OF A WORLD THAT HAS NEVER KNOWN ISLAM
A DREAM OF A WORLD FREE FROM THE HORRORS OF ISLAM.

SUCH A WONDERFUL DREAM
O HOW I WISH IT WERE TRU
 
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Yadda
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #2 - Aug 22nd, 2016 at 5:34pm
 
Auggie wrote on Aug 22nd, 2016 at 4:34pm:
Hi all,

I think one of the things we don't often talk about in Australian politics is political reform. Politicians expect us to follow rules, so it's only fair that they follow rules as well. The only way to do this is via the Constitution. Don't forget that the Constitution is a legal document, and is the supreme law of the land; if it says that something is not allowed, then it's not allowed and no law passed by the Parliament can conflict with it.

For e.g. I think there should be term limits for members of Parliament; no senator or member should serve more than 12 years in his or her lifetime. This would help with constant rotation, and prevent the 'career-politician' that we hate so much.

I also wonder what you guys think about adopting an American-style separation of powers system for Australia? I'm happy to go into details if anyone is interested.





Hi augcaesarustus,

What do you think about introducing a reform to give citizens/electors the right to 'recall' politicians [mid term] if it can be demonstrated that they made promises at election time, and then reneged on those promises in office [and for the right of citizens to 'recall' a pollie for any other 'miscreant'/offensive behaviour] ?

Google;
right of citizens to recall in u.s. states


e.g.
Recall election - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recall_election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office ... 30,000 signatures (4% of all adult citizens) are required to trigger a recall ... Several states proposed adopting a recall for US senators in the years .... (wrote in Brazilian Portuguese) English Title: The right of recall elected officials.





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"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
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Ajax
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #3 - Aug 22nd, 2016 at 5:36pm
 
Yadda wrote on Aug 22nd, 2016 at 5:34pm:
Auggie wrote on Aug 22nd, 2016 at 4:34pm:
Hi all,

I think one of the things we don't often talk about in Australian politics is political reform. Politicians expect us to follow rules, so it's only fair that they follow rules as well. The only way to do this is via the Constitution. Don't forget that the Constitution is a legal document, and is the supreme law of the land; if it says that something is not allowed, then it's not allowed and no law passed by the Parliament can conflict with it.

For e.g. I think there should be term limits for members of Parliament; no senator or member should serve more than 12 years in his or her lifetime. This would help with constant rotation, and prevent the 'career-politician' that we hate so much.

I also wonder what you guys think about adopting an American-style separation of powers system for Australia? I'm happy to go into details if anyone is interested.





Hi augcaesarustus,

What do you think about introducing a reform to give citizens/electors the right to 'recall' politicians [mid term] if it can be demonstrated that they made promises at election time, and then reneged on those promises in office [and for the right of citizens to 'recall' a pollie for any other 'miscreant'/offensive behaviour] ?

Google;
right of citizens to recall in u.s. states


e.g.
Recall election - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recall_election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office ... 30,000 signatures (4% of all adult citizens) are required to trigger a recall ... Several states proposed adopting a recall for US senators in the years .... (wrote in Brazilian Portuguese) English Title: The right of recall elected officials.







I like it.......................  Cool
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1. There has never been a more serious assault on our standard of living than Anthropogenic Global Warming..Ajax
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Auggie
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #4 - Aug 28th, 2016 at 5:41pm
 
Valkie wrote on Aug 22nd, 2016 at 4:50pm:
Can we separate the heads from their bodies after they have finished their terms?

Now that's a reform Id like to see


Your response indicates that you don't deserve to have an opinion.
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The Progressive President
 
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Auggie
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #5 - Aug 28th, 2016 at 5:43pm
 
Yadda wrote on Aug 22nd, 2016 at 5:34pm:
Auggie wrote on Aug 22nd, 2016 at 4:34pm:
Hi all,

I think one of the things we don't often talk about in Australian politics is political reform. Politicians expect us to follow rules, so it's only fair that they follow rules as well. The only way to do this is via the Constitution. Don't forget that the Constitution is a legal document, and is the supreme law of the land; if it says that something is not allowed, then it's not allowed and no law passed by the Parliament can conflict with it.

For e.g. I think there should be term limits for members of Parliament; no senator or member should serve more than 12 years in his or her lifetime. This would help with constant rotation, and prevent the 'career-politician' that we hate so much.

I also wonder what you guys think about adopting an American-style separation of powers system for Australia? I'm happy to go into details if anyone is interested.





Hi augcaesarustus,

What do you think about introducing a reform to give citizens/electors the right to 'recall' politicians [mid term] if it can be demonstrated that they made promises at election time, and then reneged on those promises in office [and for the right of citizens to 'recall' a pollie for any other 'miscreant'/offensive behaviour] ?


Yes, I think this is an excellent idea.
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Auggie
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #6 - Aug 28th, 2016 at 5:48pm
 
Some of the proposed changes would be to:

1) increase House terms to 4 years (fixed-terms);
2) introduce mixed-member PR voting system in the House;
3) reconstitute the Senate so that the State Legislatures elect senators, so that they can still serve 6 years;
4) restrict the total number of Ministers to no more than 9 in number;
5) implement 12 year term limits for members and senators;
6) reduce the power of the Senate so that it may only delay passage of legislation for nine months, after which the House of Reps has the final decision.
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #7 - Aug 28th, 2016 at 7:16pm
 
What's wrong with the old Australian constitution:

1. Football;

2. Meat pies;

3. Kangaroos; and

4. Holden cars.

Everything else is irrelevant!

Oy Oy Oy.

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John Smith
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #8 - Aug 28th, 2016 at 7:39pm
 
Auggie wrote on Aug 22nd, 2016 at 4:34pm:
For e.g. I think there should be term limits for members of Parliament; no senator or member should serve more than 12 years in his or her lifetime.



I think 8 years is more than sufficient, total. They can't do 8 yrs local govt, 8 yrs state and then 8 yrs federal.
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Unforgiven
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #9 - Aug 28th, 2016 at 8:14pm
 
John Smith wrote on Aug 28th, 2016 at 7:39pm:
Auggie wrote on Aug 22nd, 2016 at 4:34pm:
For e.g. I think there should be term limits for members of Parliament; no senator or member should serve more than 12 years in his or her lifetime.



I think 8 years is more than sufficient, total. They can't do 8 yrs local govt, 8 yrs state and then 8 yrs federal.


How about 2 terms. Four years in parliament and four in jail.
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Auggie
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #10 - Aug 28th, 2016 at 9:55pm
 
John Smith wrote on Aug 28th, 2016 at 7:39pm:
Auggie wrote on Aug 22nd, 2016 at 4:34pm:
For e.g. I think there should be term limits for members of Parliament; no senator or member should serve more than 12 years in his or her lifetime.



I think 8 years is more than sufficient, total. They can't do 8 yrs local govt, 8 yrs state and then 8 yrs federal.


So, generally, it would be 12 years in either House or in both, in any combination of terms. I think 12 years is the right balance. This is the standard in the USA in States where term limits are implemented.
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Auggie
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #11 - Aug 28th, 2016 at 9:56pm
 
Unforgiven wrote on Aug 28th, 2016 at 8:14pm:
John Smith wrote on Aug 28th, 2016 at 7:39pm:
Auggie wrote on Aug 22nd, 2016 at 4:34pm:
For e.g. I think there should be term limits for members of Parliament; no senator or member should serve more than 12 years in his or her lifetime.


I think 8 years is more than sufficient, total. They can't do 8 yrs local govt, 8 yrs state and then 8 yrs federal.


How about 2 terms. Four years in parliament and four in jail.


Now, now. Let us be reasonable.
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Auggie
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #12 - Aug 28th, 2016 at 9:57pm
 
Unforgiven wrote on Aug 28th, 2016 at 7:16pm:
What's wrong with the old Australian constitution:

1. Football;

2. Meat pies;

3. Kangaroos; and

4. Holden cars.

Everything else is irrelevant!

Oy Oy Oy.


3 years is too short.
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #13 - Aug 29th, 2016 at 7:28am
 
The inertia to be overcome would be gargantuan.
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Auggie
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Re: A new Constitution for Australia?
Reply #14 - Aug 29th, 2016 at 2:39pm
 
issuevoter wrote on Aug 29th, 2016 at 7:28am:
The inertia to be overcome would be gargantuan.


What on earth are you talking about?
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The Progressive President
 
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