Government outline for consideration
Most republics have a President, some suffer a dictatorship headed by a self appointed president.
The Westminster system is the British form of government that became Australia's government system.
Britain has a monarch, Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II and is the head of the nation, Australia has a Governor General and is called the head of the nation while the States having a State's Governors'. Each Governor is empowered by a constitution under which requires them to perform in the same capacity and duties as Her Majesty, they are Her Majesty representatives and under our system is appointed by government, national or state.
Should Australia become a republic, as proposed by The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) of the late 1990's, then the Governor General will be replaced by a President. The ARM proposal was to change nothing else, just behead the Governor General. The question is, "What is to happen with the State's Governors' as this has never been discussed or any proposals made public and under the Constitution each state is a separate identity from the national government.
This proposal suggests that Australia consider having no President and in place there is the Office of the National Executive Council. This executive comprises of five (5) Eminent Persons' elected by the people on the basis of one per region. A region being a collection of ten (10) Provinces of about six million people and elections are conducted according to The Constitution.
The duty of the National Executive Council be incorporated in the Constitution that is passed by referendum.
With each region of 6 million electing one Executive Councilor to represent that region in ceremonial or public duties as required.
A good example would be the recent Olympic Games at Sydney, the personage to represent Australia at that event would be Executive Councilor elected for the region that the Sydney Province is in. In an international event such as this it could be expected that all five Executive Councilors attend with the region Councilor conducting the official duties as required.
The primary duties of this Executive Council would be similar to the present GG duties relating to legislation and other duties. The present guide line and protocols would be the background of determining responsibilities etc.
THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT:
The Senate would consist of two (2) Senators per Province, up to 100. The function of The Senate is as it is in the present parliament. A house of review and to ensure that legislation and the functioning of parliament is for the benefit of his/her constituents of the Province he represents. This responsibility of function is to be mirrored in the duties of the Provincial Executives functions.
The term of service being eight (8) and it is suggested that the candidates with the highest and second highest vote fill these positions for the province.
The candidate achieving the highest number of votes being elected for the 8 years, the candidate with the second highest votes for a term of 4 years.
It is suggested that National and Provincial elections could be conducted every four (4) years, but two years a part.
Members to The House of Representatives (MHR):
The members elected to The House would be for a period of four (4) years. There would be three (3) MHR elected from each province, a maximum of 150 MHRs. There could be no Ministers with portfolio rather a committee of Members responsible for conduct of the a department. Under the Westminster system in place there are Ministers of Portfolios and who responsible to parliament for his portfolio and that creates a very adversary situation on both sides of parliament. Within the State government system Ministers have attracted criticisms for abdicating their responsible to the CEO of the department. By replacing Ministers for committee of three in the primary portfolios (Inner Cabinet under the Westminster system) and two (2) Members for other portfolios. Adopting a system of control that as bipartisan the House of Representatives is constituted to draft, pass and amend legislation for all departmental matters for the national government is responsible for.
Provincial Government:
The Provincial Executive:
It is anticipate that that Australia could have fifty (50) provinces of about 600,000 people with three (3) electoral division to each province. Provincial Executive would be mirrored on The National Executive office with each electoral division electing one Councilor.
The Divisional Councilors:
Councilors for the Provinces number eighteen (18) with six (6) elected from each the three electoral divisions (200,000). The Councilors are not given any portfolio responsibility and elected by the people as policy makers and not policy implementers and their duties should mirror those of The House of Representatives.
Complied by and copyright © to Bob Buick, Queensland August 2000