Let's establish a Makarrata Commission

• intend through this Constitution, to foster the peace, welfare and good government of Australia; and
• adopt the principle of the sovereignty of the people, under the rule of law, and the system of representative and responsible government, prescribed by this Constitution; and
• honour the Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians, whose lands, winds and waters we all now share; and pay tribute to their unique values, and their ancient and enduring cultures, which deepen and enrich the life of our community; and
• undertake to consult the democratically elected national organism of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and carefully consider its requests, proposals and comments on all and any matters concerning our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, in a concerted effort of mutual agreement.
• determine to protect our unique environment; and
• acknowledge the achievements of our forebears coming from many backgrounds, who together faced and overcame adversity and injustice, and whose efforts bequeathed to us, and future generations, a realistic opportunity to strive for social harmony; and
• resolve in this the 230th anniversary year of the establishment of Australia, to nurture our inheritance, and build a society based on democracy, freedom and peace. »

Naturally, this new preamble should be accompanied by some indispensable refurbishing of the Constitution which any reputable constitutionalist can recommend in order to eliminate the inacceptable colonial terminology disrespectful of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander compatriots from the main body of the text.

That said, there comes a time when there are so many holes in the rusty old bucket that you just can't fix it anymore.

Our old colonial constitution was drafted in the 1890s. The population was about 3.5 million in those days. But we are no longer a British colony even though it was not until 1984 that we Australian citizens ceased to be British subjects. We abandoned the White Australia policy in 1973 and have since become one of the world's most multicultural societies.

Our rusty old bucket (the constitution) is so old and fragile it is full of holes and beyond repair. Freedom of expression (speech, cartoons, etc.) has fallen through one of them. The prime minister has fallen through another. The constitution simply says the British Crown is the head of state. No mention of a bill of rights.

We have tried to patch it up 44 times since it was drafted 120 years ago but were only succeeded eight times. The only way it can be fixed is by referendum and that's almost certain to fail. Howard knew that. That's why he used it to preserve royalty and prevent the country from becoming a republic.

The only sensible thing to do would be to wrap our old colonial constitution in fine silk tissue paper (just plain white would be nice) to carefully conserve all the worn-out, dusty bits and pieces - and get a new one.

Unfortunately, that won't happen until we decide to become a republic. For that, we probably need more non-British Australians in order to counterbalance the overwhelming weight of the nostalgic vote perpetuated by British Royal mania.