Australians are being urged to pay closer attention to the agendas of political parties and their plans for national, regional, and local governance. The concern is that some parties may be pushing for international governance, which could undermine the principles of constitutional democracy. The call is for voters to support parties that respect and uphold the Australian Commonwealth Constitution and to vote out any parties deemed treasonous.
To determine which parties adhere to constitutional democracy, the article suggests visiting their websites and reading their media releases. Specifically, readers should look for parties that advocate for federalism in accordance with the Australian Commonwealth Constitution enacted in 1901. It questions if the parties’ version of federalism promotes grassroots democracy, focusing on local and regional government, or if it follows the constitutional structure that relies on a parliament. It also questions if any parties are seeking to eliminate state governments and what system would replace them.
The article highlights that, while Australians have been busy with their lives, politicians have been delegating power to non-elected “experts” and individuals seeking political positions through local and regional governmental systems. Currently, there are several hundred local government organizations in Australia, all established by state parliaments. The concern is that these advocacy groups are circumventing the Australian Commonwealth Constitution, given there is no local or regional government jurisdiction within it. This is reinforced by the 1988 referendum when the Australian people rejected the inclusion of local government.
One organization mentioned in the article is the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). ACELG is a consortium consisting of five entities, including the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) and the Local Government Professionals Australia. ACELG has hosted an international roundtable on metropolitan governance in collaboration with the “Forum of Federations” and the Major Cities Unit of Infrastructure Australia. The former Labor Senator, Margaret Reynolds, praises ACELG for its progress in achieving world-class local government.
The Regional Australia Institute (RAI), another organization mentioned, sees itself at the forefront of a national movement advocating for regionalization. They recently hosted the Regions Rising National Summit in Canberra, aiming to “rebalance the nation” through their National Regionalization Framework. The RAI Board consists of influential individuals, such as former Leader of the National Party Mark Vaile and former S.A. Liberal Premier Rob Kerin. RAI identifies itself as an independent think tank.
The article also mentions various global organizations focused on local and regional governments, such as the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments. These organizations bring together local and regional leaders worldwide to discuss and address common challenges.
Additionally, the article notes the existence of the Regional Development Australia (RDA) department, previously known as the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development, and Local Government. This department operated under the Labor government and was responsible for various regional and local government matters.
The article concludes by highlighting the proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations, which would grant the World Health Organization (WHO) unilateral authority to declare public health emergencies at the international and regional levels. The concern is that this could limit sovereign nations’ ability to appeal such declarations.
Lastly, the article suggests that regionalism is a tool used by the United Nations (UN) to integrate economies. The UN’s regional commissions work beneath the surface to bypass national sovereignty and promote regional integration.
In summary, the article raises concerns about the potential erosion of constitutional democracy in Australia, urging voters to carefully consider parties’ governance plans. It highlights various organizations and their roles in advocating for different forms of governance, emphasizing the need to protect the principles outlined in the Australian Commonwealth Constitution.
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