The British Monarchy - and its dirty laundry - have got to go

In Europe, for some years now, there has been a focus on developing strong regional governance structures, as opposed to keeping within rigidly drawn provincial or state boundaries that reflect history, and not reality to day.

A republican debate can help to build on the thoughts and challenges presented by the State of the Regions Report and by constitutional developments in other countries on this matter.

Sovereignty in the people must have meaning in our daily lives and currently, for many Australians it does not. A discussion about the best way to deliver that practical and symbolic sovereignty should be part of the on-going republic debate.

The Australian Democrats – the Party to which I now belong – has long had a policy position on this matter.

Last year, Senator John Cherry, the Party’s Regional Development spokesperson and I should add, a highly intelligent contributor to policy debates, noted that many regions in Australia would be better off if they had more control over their own affairs.

In Cherry’s view the real push to abolish the States will eventually come from regional Australia, whose tolerance with the current political structure is clearly wearing thin.

(I should note I am not speaking as a Democrat representative today, but the Leader of the Party, Senator Andrew Bartlett, an active republic supporter will speak tomorrow afternoon.)

So let me end on this note –an Australian republic must present the opportunity for a reshaping a polity that will suit a 21^st century Australia. And, as a minimum it must include these elements:

1. A profound respect for human rights that provides a strong framework for their enforcement so as to prevent a repetition of the abuses in this arena by the Howard government and state and territory governments in areas such as sentencing;
2. A Bill of Rights; and
3. A renewed look at the governance arrangements for this sprawling Nation that reground sovereignty in the people.