SA in summary
Under SA the people simply take over the sovereign’s task of appointing the PM’s candidate. After pondering the comments to the previous post I thought it might it pertinent to post here the last item in the FAQ file which summarises the virtues of SA.
Q. In sum, what are the reasons people would vote for Sovereign Appointment?
- It transfers sovereignty from the monarch to the people which is the proper way to become a republic.
- It continues the system which has worked satisfactorily for 100 years whereby the GG is the agent of the sovereign appointed by the sovereign, and holds the sovereign’s authority.
- The constitutional change is extremely simple.
- It continues to exclude politicians from the selection of the head of state. As a result:
- It makes the people sovereign without political power upsets.
- It has no effect on reserve powers or on other conventions so no “codification” is required.
- It preserves the dignity and predictability of the office of governor-general.
- It clears the way for rational discussion of a republic.
- It has no effect on the prospects for any republic design.
- There is a prospect of real consensus. About 70% of Australians favour becoming a republic but can’t agree on how to choose the president. They would all agree with “Sovereign Appointment” for it does not alter power relationships and does not inhibit anyone from promoting their preferred model.
February 11, 2006 at 6:03 pm
Rational discussion of a republic? That doesn’t seem likely. The ARM’s latest campaign revolves around the slogan ‘a mate for head of state’!
How would the GG be removed under Sovereign Approval? Would this have any effect on the ‘race to the palace’ elements surrounding 1975?
February 11, 2006 at 6:44 pm
“Mate for head of state”, apart from being vomitous is erroneous. It’s erroneous in the same way as “one of us” was: nobody wants the Queen to be a mate. We want to do away with the Queen. We want a REPUBLIC.
The mate slogan got a lot of flack from ARM members, among other things for seeming to omit women. Old habits die hard and the membership had not been consulted – the prima donnas just decided for them. Because it was so pukey it did get a lot of publicity and all publicity is good publicity. Even got a rise out of the GG it seems.
This rather fake business of dismissing the GG is handled in the FAQs. (I’d give you a link but I don’t know how – top right on the home page – you’ll see it.) Fake because in 100 years federally and 150 years in the Australian states no governor has ever been dismissed. A few have resigned.
The text of the relevant constitution paras is under “Change the constitution” (I really must find out how to make links). The GG’s appointment is at the pleasure of the sovereign.
There couldn’t be a race. The only person who could seek to dismiss the GG is the PM and he would have to write a letter to the sovereign requesting it, ie there’d be a postal referendum. The GG would have plenty of time to consider the options (quit, sack the PM) as indeed he had in 1975.
February 13, 2006 at 6:47 pm
Mike, I’m probably daft, but I don’t understand your proposal. You say that you’re not advocating a popularly elected president, but I’m not sure how else the will of the “people” can be implemented, except through an election.
February 13, 2006 at 8:50 pm
Andrew
It is extremely simple. Extremely: the people would do exactly what the Queen does: approve the PM’s candidate.
The PM writes the sovereign a letter proposing a candidate and the sovereign writes back appointing his nominee. With the people as sovereign that becomes a postal referendum.
It’s the “Missouri Plan” which appoints judges in many US states and the Supreme Court judges of Japan. You can Google that but it would be quicker to read the first half dozen FAQs here.
The appointment of the GG is set out in sections 2 and 4 of the constitution. Substitute “People” for “Queen” three times and appointment is wholely transferred to the people. Wholely.
Appointment, not election: the sovereign does not elect the GG. She appoints the single candidate offered.
December 30, 2006 at 10:08 pm
hasta la vista baby!!
August 18, 2007 at 6:59 pm
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