But Bob they also voted in a referendum on the same day against accepting the original
inhabitants, the Aborigines. as the original owners of Australia. As far as I know
this is
the case --racism.
Warm regards
George Pennefather
Be free to check out our Communist Think-Tank web site at
http://homepage.tinet.ie/~beprepared/
>From the reports here in Sweden it appears that the real question appeared to be the
question of who would elect a president. The people or the parliment and because the
purposal declined the former many "republicans" elected to keep the old hag.
Much talk about the deep mistrust of politicans and politics in general.
Warm regards
Bob Malecki
----- Original Message -----
From: Bullimore / Kim Maree (COM) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, November 08, 1999 2:40 AM
Subject: M-TH: Republic (and preamble) defeated...
> Although the final count is not in - due to postal votes etc, the republic
> was defeated in the November 6 referendum. With 77.8% of the vote
> counted....
> 45.3% Yes for Republic 39.5% Yes to add preamble to constitution
> 54.7% No for Republic 60.5% No to preamble.
> To win the republic vote had to achieve a double majority. That is
> to achieve constitutional change, the majority of Australian voters and a
> majority of voters in a majority of the states (that is a majority must be
> won in at least 4 states) must agree to the changes.
>
> The preamble was resoundingly defeated by 60% of the vote. This was a
> major slap in the face for the PM John Howard and Aden Ridgeway who
> drafted the preamble. The preamble which was full of nationalistic
> jingoism, which our PM seems to love so much.
>
> It read (try not to throw up as you read it!!!):
> With hope in God, the Commonwealth of Australia is constituted as a
> democracy with a federal system of government to serve the common good.
> We the Australian people commit ourselves to this constitution: Proud that
> our national unity has been forged by Australians of many ancestries;
> Never forgetting the sacrifices of all who defended our country and our
> liberty in time of war; upholding freedom, tolerance, individual dignity
> and the rule of law; Honouring Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, the
> nation's first people, for their deep kinship with their lands and for
> their ancient and continuing cultues which enrich the life of our countryl
> Recognising the nation building contribution of generatins of immigrants;
> mindful of our responsibliltly to protec our unique environmentl;
> supportive of achievement as well as equality of opportunity for all; and
> valuing independence as dearly as the national spirit which binds us
> together in both adversity and success.
>
> The preamble was drafted without consultation (other than with the
> Democrats and Aden Ridgeway) to the people. Originally it included the
> PM's favourite word "mateship" which offended a large number of people,
> especially women - mateship is a very male term which has its origins in
> the national identity myth of the bush battler and diggers at WW1.
> Eventually this was dropped reluctantly.
>
> The other main area of contention was with the wording in regard to
> Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people. The favoured word by many
> Aboriginal people and leaders was "custodianship", which gives a more
> accurate reading of the relationship that Indigenous Australians have with
> their traditional lands. Howard refused to use custodianship, because it
> could also imply ownership (and there for would be at odds with his view
> of the history of Australia - you know the Europeans really didn't steal
> the land from the Aboriginals or murder them or steal their children).
>
> The word "kinship" was suggested by the only Aboriginal in parliament Aden
> Ridgeway who is a member of the Democrats and is conservative.
> Ridgeway has lost a lot of standing with the grass roots membership of the
> Aboriginal community because of this. He is seen by many as a "token"
> black. The intersting thing is that Labor Aboriginal spokesperson, Daryl
> Melham has accussed him of just this today - something they have backed
> away from prior to this.
>
> comradely,
> Kim B
>
>
>
> --- from list [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---
--- from list [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---
--- from list [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---
