By Reihana Mohideen
The US constitution, with its radical Bill of Rights, was a product of a social revolution against British colonial rule. In the Philippines in September more than half a million people protested in defence of the constitution, a product of a social rebellion which overthrew the Marcos dictatorship. By contrast, in Australia the constitutional convention due in February is marked by an overwhelming lack of interest — and with very good reason.
Howard's "people's convention" is an undemocratic sham. Of 152 delegates, 76 have been hand picked by the government. They include "pro-republican personalities" such as Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett, NSW Liberal party leader Peter Collins, former prime minister Paul Keating and hardline monarchists.
The rest of the delegates will be elected by a non-compulsory postal ballot, which will be heavily influenced by those with the resources to campaign through the establishment media.
Australia today is a monarchy in form only. In content it is already a republic, with the queen's representatives in Australia, the governor-general and the state governors, appointed by federal and state governments.
With several leaders of the Liberal Party supporting the Australian Republican Movement, there is, in effect, strong bipartisan support for an Australian head of state. And if there is any change, that's as far as it will be allowed to go — change the figurehead and leave the whole undemocratic system of government and parliamentary privilege intact.
There are several progressive candidates running for the convention. These include the Greens, the Committee for a Just Republic sponsored by former leaders of the Communist Party such as Eric Aarons, and the Australian Women's Party ticket (Women for a Just Republic). Some of the demands put forward by these tickets, such as a bill of rights, are certainly worthy of support.
The overall approach of these groups, however, reflects varying degrees of illusions about what changes can be achieved from this convention and the "republic debate".
Libby Connors, the Greens' candidate, argues that it's "important for the left to vote" for progressive delegates so that we can face the challenges of "globalisation" and "strengthen our national political rights"! Surely, this is at best an exaggeration.
The platform of the Australian Women's Party ticket doesn't make even a passing reference to issues as crucial as indigenous rights. Its single demand is the election of more women delegates (its own) to "make our concerns heard" and to campaign for equal representation of women and men in parliament. No mention is made of issues which do concern a majority of women, such as cuts to child-care services and attacks on abortion rights. Its platform could accommodate any female career politician.
While the platform of the Just Republic seems to be the most radical, it still falls short. It calls for "genuine reconciliation" with indigenous peoples, but has no clear-cut demands in support of land rights. It calls for "proportional representation for all the Houses of Parliament" but says nothing about making the Senate, that idiosyncratic throwback to Britain's feudal past, redundant, which it would be if there was proportional representation in the House of Representatives.
It makes vague references to "popular democracy" but has no demand for public officials such as judges and public service bureaucrats to be popularly elected and made accountable.
Howard is likely to use the national convention to win support for his government's reactionary agenda. There will be a lot of rhetoric about the popular will, tolerance and freedom in defence of the "national interest" — code for the government's subservience to big business — but no fundamental changes to its neo-liberal austerity agenda.
The crucial issue facing the left today is the organisation and mobilisation of the popular sentiment that does exist amongst tens of thousands of ordinary Australians against the Howard government's policies. That includes opposition to its stand against reducing greenhouse gas emissions, support for native title and support for accountable politicians who put people and the environment first.
It's through the independent action of thousands of ordinary Australians in their workplaces and unions, in the streets, on campus and in high schools that "popular will" can be genuinely expressed — and felt.
[Reihana Mohideen is a National Committee member of the Democratic Socialist Party.]