Twentieth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

This paper presents two connected arguments over what Australia should replace its current Constitutional Monarchy with a civic republic. First, significant political reform in Australia is made more difficult because the rule and order of Australia is proxied by the crowned head of the United Kingdom. For true sovereignty Australia needs a Head of State elected from among its citizens. Second, without constitutional reform there will can be no mandate for legislative justice and retribution for First Nations Indigenous Australians. The first part of the paper argues for a directly elected head of state—a president, in a hereditary ruler’s place—with the sovereign and political right to govern as the executive arbiter of the legislature, senate, and judiciary of the Australian Republic. A civic republic restricts and reprimands politicians who fail to hear the voice of the people, and to act on their behalf, as it pertains to the rule of law. This paper justifies why a Civic Republic is Necessary and maps the way forward, to a referendum. Australia has attempted to reconcile its colonial history with First Nations People. However, for as long as First Nations Australians are voiceless in the constitution, and for as long as Australia has no truly independent state, there can be no reconciliation, and no effective treaties between the State and the First Nations People.