And I was thinking that our political parties do not rate a mention in that document; despite the fact that some parties were established before the document was written.
I was wrong.
They called it the “Australian Political Crisis” and as I began to read about it, I was wondering why I didn’t remember it — or the referendum, or the plebiscite, both of which followed it.
Before the referendum, if a senator resigned or died, the state parliament chose a replacement.
But, in 1975, two state governments broke with tradition and chose replacements who did not belong to the same political party as the retiring senators.
This, they say, disrupted the balance of power.
There were three questions asked of us, in May of 1977.
The first, to ensure that a casual vacancy in the Senate is filled by a person of the same political party.
The second, to allow electors in territories, as well as in the states, to vote in constitutional referendums.
The third, to provide mandatory retirement ages for federal judges.
To me, they all sound like questions with “Yes! Of course” answers.
Or “Haven’t we done that yet?”
More than 70 per cent of Australians voted in favour of each question.
Quite extraordinary, was it not?
Then there was also a plebiscite about a national anthem — and this stirred my memory, because I am a royalist and a nationalist — and I had to make a choice.
Advance Australia Fair won the day for me — and most other people.
I had a rather unusual connection with our prime minister (which I just remembered).
He was godfather to a very good friend of mine and I am godmother to her daughter. Weird, hey?
It certainly wouldn’t have influenced my votes in either the referendum or the plebiscite. Or the election.
The PM was Malcolm Fraser and he was strongly supported — and re-elected in December of 1977.
Anyway, the referendum in that busy year, necessitated alterations to the constitution — and one of them stands alone.
This was the first, and so far, last mention of political parties.
In Section 15, it legally mandates that a replacement senator must belong to the same political party as the person they are replacing. [1, 2, 3]
Advance Australia Fair – just a thought
Nowadays, I’m not so sure I’d vote for Advance Australia Fair — because of one mild night in Melbourne.
My husband and I were in town for a show, and aware that it was Melbourne Cup weekend.
However, there was also an international soccer match; there were people everywhere and they were singing.
In fact, it felt like the city was singing I am Australian.
The lyric of that song is very long, but a shorter version was in the soccer program and its message was very clear.
We are one. But we are many. And from all the lands on Earth we come.
I didn’t know I could laugh and sing and cry — all at the same time.
What do you think about this?
“I can’t decide if I’m glad to be old enough to wish my world a fond farewell, or if I envy the young lads who get to explore this new world. She wanted to offer encouragement but the past, that he regarded with such fondness was … well, like waves in water. Gone now, absorbed by the ocean of time. It was the future that excited her.”
It is a quote from the fourth book in a series (more than 5500 pages), telling one big story.
I’d love to hear what you think of this quote.
Envious of the young lads?
Excited about the future? I have read, and re-read, it many times; not sure why.
May it be easy, my friends.
Marnie
Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
Phone: Text or call 0409 317187
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