Protecting our Constitutional Monarchy and Australian Democracy

As the British government has found to its horror and acute embarrassment, it is entirely foolish to gain a mandate for action without the ability to execute the change.

The resulting sheer distraction, waste of political energy, the lack of certainty, the demise of one prime minister, has utterly undermined confidence in government and in the institution of Parliament itself.

In Australia it would be improper for government to attempt constitutional change without respecting the constitutional provision, which is for the voters to be given precise details about any recommended changes so they can vote with certainty on the issue in a manner which binds the Parliament.

Anything less is to treat the people and the civic system with contempt, and to engage in a process of constitutional vandalism. It would be grossly improper for any government to misappropriate the resources of the Australian Bureau of Statistics, requiring its officials to run a glorified opinion poll on a question, as occurred with the same-sex marriage postal ballot, or to instruct the Australian Electoral Commission to hold a plebiscite on a constitutional question instead of running a proper referendum.

In discussions embarrassing to one’s self and the Executive Council, the Governor-General may feel dutybound to point out that each federal parliamentarian must profess allegiance to the Queen of Australia, along with her heirs and successors, according to the Constitution (s42 and its schedule), and that while any MP is free to debate the merits of Crown allegiance, no MP can take ministerial action against the Crown without a mandate from the people as determined by the referendum mechanism provided in the Constitution. The people must be consulted and must approve constitutional change before the Constitution may be used in a manner otherwise contrary to its own provisions. In other words, no ‘minister for the republic’ can be appointed under the existing Constitution.

A ‘Constitutional Monarchy’ has proven to be the best form of government, despite many cynically claiming that having a Monarch as Head of State is good for tourism, and not much else, the fact remains that there are numerous reasons why constitutional monarchy has been, is, and will be the best form of government.

Happy birthday, your majesty.