NSW Legislative Council member Lee Rhiannon has described the Australian peoples' record on producing affirmative referendum results as being "poor". "Astute" would have been a better word to describe our referendum results as Australians will not support changes that will give elected public servants more powers and/or do not provide tangible benefits to the people themselves!
Ms Rhiannon has also indicated that the Greens support a two-stage process to establish a republic. That includes an initial non-binding plebiscite followed by a consultative process to determine the model for the republic and the method by which the Head of State should be elected.
That said, Ms Rhiannon doesn't believe in any consultative process before changing the NSW Constitution; she believes that most people in NSW would support the change to the Oath of Allegiance despite the fact that she has no tangible and overwhelming evidence to arrive at that conclusion.
Obviously, Ms Rhiannon does not subscribe to Professor Cherryl Saunders' sentiment that "Fundamental rules about the acquisition of power cannot confidently be left to those who presently hold power or who have regular prospects of doing so"!
But not all people think the same way as does Ms Rhiannon.
The Federal Independent Member for New England, Mr Tony Windsor, has now written to the Prime Minister (see attached PDF) asking for his consideration in respect of initiating the process to require States to conduct referendums in relation to such proposals.
Meanwhile, Senator Brown - who leads the Greens - remains abnormally silent on this issue!
Ms Rhiannon has also indicated that the Greens support a two-stage process to establish a republic. That includes an initial non-binding plebiscite followed by a consultative process to determine the model for the republic and the method by which the Head of State should be elected.
That said, Ms Rhiannon doesn't believe in any consultative process before changing the NSW Constitution; she believes that most people in NSW would support the change to the Oath of Allegiance despite the fact that she has no tangible and overwhelming evidence to arrive at that conclusion.
Obviously, Ms Rhiannon does not subscribe to Professor Cherryl Saunders' sentiment that "Fundamental rules about the acquisition of power cannot confidently be left to those who presently hold power or who have regular prospects of doing so"!
But not all people think the same way as does Ms Rhiannon.
The Federal Independent Member for New England, Mr Tony Windsor, has now written to the Prime Minister (see attached PDF) asking for his consideration in respect of initiating the process to require States to conduct referendums in relation to such proposals.
Meanwhile, Senator Brown - who leads the Greens - remains abnormally silent on this issue!
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