In a few weeks I'll be in my 70th year. My three score years and 10 are nearly up. And you too will be surprised how quickly time will fly as you grow older.
So, I want to ask you a question. Why are you here?
Are you just an inconsequential member of the chattering class? Do you just like the sound of your own voice? Are you just pursuing some private little agenda?
Or are we here in the hope that, in some small way, we might be able to improve the society in which we live?
If it is true that we hope to bring about change for the good of our society, then we have to get focused. We have to start thinking about how this change is going to come about.
It is no good saying, "but we don't yet have a plan; so there is no point in talking about implementation". We have to start thinking about implementation now because it is very likely that any implementation plan will have a long lead-time.
I would like you to imagine for a moment that a minor miracle has occurred and we have reached agreement on what we think should replace the current three-tiered system of government. We have decided on a system.
Now the question is, how do we envisage this system being implemented?
Do you imagine that we will send a letter to the Prime Minister outlining our system and that he and his government will implement it?
Perhaps you envisage that we will foment a revolution, overthrow all three tiers of government and re-establish government as we think it should be?
We have got to start thinking about a plan for implementation. To get the ball rolling I want to present to you today one idea for implementation.
I want to put this proposition to you as succinctly as I can and then spend the rest of my allotted time debating it with you.
It is my view that the only way to introduce a two tiered system of government or for that matter, to make any significant and far-reaching change to our system of government; is by changing the Constitution.
I don't need to tell you that the only way to change the Constitution is by a referendum. Nor should it be necessary to remind you that the only people currently authorised to initiate such a referendum is the National Government. It is my belief that there are only two chances of getting either Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dumb to initiate such changes. Buckley's and none.
So where do we go from here?
Ladies and gentlemen there is a way. The first step is a referendum on Section 128 of the constitution. This referendum will seek a simple change to Section 128 to allow the citizens of this nation to initiate a referendum to change the constitution.
What we are talking about here is empowering the People to have some say in their system of government. If we can get just one party to accept this idea, and to put a Bill before the National Parliament, I can't envisage any of the other Parties opposing it. It would be political suicide
The second step in our plan of implementation is that we then initiate a referendum to change the constitution and introduce a two tiered system of government.
It is a simple plan but there is a snag. The snag is the reluctance of the Australian electorate to approve changes to the constitution. Now the expert's and the commentators and the pundits will give you many reasons for this reluctance. It is my view that the real reasons are these;
A deep suspicion of our politicians, and
A fear of unintended outcomes.
However, if the initiative comes from the People, we have largely negated the problem of lack of faith in our politicians.
On the other hand, the fear of unintended outcomes stems from the inability of the electorate to read our current Constitution (together with proposed amendments), to understand what they are reading and to have confidence in the outcomes.
It is extremely difficult for the man in the street to read and understand our current constitution. What is even more confusing is the fact that what they read in the Constitution bears little resemblance to what they see happening around them. So the people get confused. And when the people are confused their scepticism takes over and they reject proposed amendments.
So how do we overcome this impediment to progress?
Ladies and Gentlemen, there is a way. The road to Damascus lies in a completely new constitution.
A completely new constitution written in contemporary language and spelling out in words of one syllable exactly how our system of government is to work.
It is my belief that the Australian people are not stupid. Given the opportunity to vote on a new constitution that they can read and understand and that makes the changes they know are needed; they will vote for it.
There is one more snag. If the people of Australia are presented with a new constitution that does not address the many other problems in our society, the chances are they will reject it.
So, if we are serious about making changes in our society; if we are serious about introducing a two-tier system of government in whatever form, we need to think about a new constitution.
A whole new constitution is not a one day job. But neither is it an insurmountable problem. But you can see why I want us to pay some attention to how we intend to achieve the sort of changes we are talking about here.
If we can see no way to achieve change, we might as well stop talking about it and go sailing or playing golf.
Perhaps someone has a better idea.
If that is the case, then let's hear about it. Let us explore the options available. We need a vigorous debate about a plan of implementation.
So, this is my plan for achieving a two tiered system of government.
Phase one; a referendum to amend the Constitution to give the People the right to initiate change.
Phase two; a referendum to completely replace the current constitution with a completely new one that incorporates a two tiered system of government.
Charles then took questions on his approach.