Farewell, Your Majesty

Wouldn’t we prefer to have a head of state more in touch with the Australian people, chosen by us and from among us? Someone who is not necessarily Anglo-Saxon or Protestant or wealthy?

I know of many Australians who could suitably fill the role.

The first step towards constitutional change must be for the Australian people to decide in a plebiscite whether they want a republic. The second step must be to decide on an appropriate republican model.

The models discussed at the 1998 convention involved only minor changes to the wording and operation of our constitution. Like the majority of Australians, I do not wish to see a radical departure from our system of governance.

Of 44 questions put to referendum since 1909, only 8 have carried. Yet, I disagree with Robert Menzies’ description of an affirmative referendum vote as “one of the labours of Hercules”. If bipartisan support can be achieved, a referendum is likely to succeed.

One hurdle, however, is our tendency to deify our constitutional drafters - to imagine them as superior beings incapable of error and prejudice and misjudgment.

In reality, most were upper-class mediocrities chiefly concerned with restricting Chinese migration and enabling easier communication with the British Imperial Office. Few envisaged that Australia would evolve into the vibrant and independent nation it is today.

As times and attitudes change, so too must the words of our constitution.

I am confident that, through all the fanfare and controversy over the Queen’s visit to our shores, we will see that the referendum of 1999 was a wasted opportunity. Next time, the outcome must be different.