This is a call for all supporters to make a submission on Senator Brown’s Plebiscite for an Australian Republic Bill, 2008.
At the very least send a brief email, fax or letter.
Submissions MUST be received by 6 February, 2009.
This is, extraordinarily, the 57th Anniversary of the Accession of HM The Queen.
Our comment, “A plebiscite with the next election? Sen.Brown's irresponsible, wasteful bill” made on 3 December, 2008, is on our website.
This contains the Bill, the Explanatory Memorandum, and Senator Brown’s Second Reading Speech.
The comment is also in the current issue of The Australian Constitutional Defender , No 9, which is being sent to all on our mailing list.
If you would like a copy, email us at [email protected] with your name address, phone number and email address.
Submissions can be sent by email to [email protected] or by fax to (02) 6277 5809, or by mail to The Secretary, Finance and Public Administration Committee, Parliament House , Canberra 2600.
We do encourage all supporters to send in a submission, however brief. Indeed we suspect a brief submission will normally be preferable.
We suggest you could object to one or more of the following:
· Details of the proposed republic are being kept secret
· There is only one way to change the constitution- so why isn’t it being used?
· The smaller states are not protected as in a referendum
· This plebiscite invites the people to reject the existing constitution without knowing what is to be put in its place
· If passed it will lead to a period of constitutional instability
· It will be costly, and add to the millions and millions already spent
· In 1999 every state and 72% of electorates said no to the republicans’ preferred model
· Don’t the republicans understand that No means No?
· The agenda of many if not most republicans includes changing our flag
· Few people understand what a plebiscite is.
The important thing is to get your submission in, and in time.
That the period for submissions coincides with the time when Australians normally take their holidays makes the process suspect.
