Greg Martin has always loved Australian Constitutional Law. Our Constitution sets the rules relating to how the federal government exists and the powers that it has. This is similar to a company rulebook, and simple meeting agendas.
The problem is that our Constitution is antiquated and almost impossible to change. It has been 40 years since the last change was made to the Constitution in 1977.
Did you also know that our Constitution is actually an Act of the UK Parliament? Yes, our country only exists because of a UK statute.
A recent Sydney Morning Herald article by Professor George Williams, the Dean of UNSW Law School, Greg’s old alma mater, explains why our Constitution needs amendment, and in particular why we need to set up a Constitution Review Commission.
Issues such as appointing an Australian head of state, recognising local governments, duplication of resources, and even whether or not we should become a republic are governed by our Constitution.
Australia is at economic and political disadvantage due to our failure to amend the Constitution.
Let’s make some small changes and move forward into the 21st century, particularly as Australia only became a country on 1 January 1901 when the UK Act of Parliament came into effect. It’s time.