How about OUR Republic?
Here is an informative, easy to read, common sense new book on Australia's plans to become a Republic! It is a comparative study of 15 modern Republics. There are also comparisons with a number of constitutional monarchies with governance practices that could be useful for governance reform in Australia.
You’ll remember that Australians voted down the Referendum on the Republic in November, 1999. The majority didn’t like the ONLY model on offer. There was a great lack of comparative information. It was a very Minimalist superficial exercise, just a discussion about the Head of State, as if there were no other major problems with the Constitution. Afterwards solid research indicated that the voters lacked sufficient information and sufficient choice. Contrary to many people's view that Australians are conservative this book is premised on the view (1) that the citizens do not know enough about matters of governance; (2) that they desire to know much more.
Isn’t it high time that the people start discussing THEIR Republic and THEIR Constitution? The 2008 Australia 2020 Summit made it quite clear: That time has come! That will require a bit of light reading about how other Republics came into being, how they elect their Presidents, what kind of structure their states have and why? Also how their electoral regimes operate, and how their governments are formed. The book also takes the reader to several European constitutional monarchies to see what governance systems they have in place that Australia could learn from.
The Howard Government has done absolutely NOTHING since the 1999 Referendum to enlighten the voters to make informed choices in the future. Nor have they even contemplated that certain initiatives could also be given to the people to initiate constitutional change; or discussed in any way that deficiencies in the Constitution should be addressed. Now we have the Rudd education revolution. This book is ready-made for that revolution as far as options for change in governance is concerned.
The book seeks to address this gross neglect since 1999 in 177 pages. Cannot be done you say? Find out and tell me later. The book questions much of Australia's Westminster type 1901 Constitution that has proved so very difficult to amend and update for over 109 years. It is now regarded by many experts as ossified and in need of a complete overhaul. The author questions the federal system and suggests alternatives to replace it with a system of two levels: national and local, plus various adjuncts of regional institutions. It questions the electoral system as undemocratic essentially serving Australia’s mediocre two-party regime - and blocking constitutional change. Surely Australia needs to change the political culture. Author Klaas Woldring says, “I hope the people will OWN the next Constitution. That can only be done if they actively participate in the process of making it”.
Published by BookSurge (US), printed by BookSurge
In Australia available from BookPod On-Line, Melbourne, 03 9803 4481 or
About the author: this is his fourth book. Klaas Woldring is a former Associate Professor of Management and Politics. He and his family arrived in Australia in 1964. Has researched and taught for more than 30 years in Australia, Southern Africa, the US, New Zealand, the Scandinavian countries, Malta, Solomon Islands and several Asian destinations.
August, 2008
