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The
Australian Constitution
The Australian Constitution belongs to the people - not to
governments, and certainly not to political
parties. While the Crown heads all of our great institutions of
state, no politician can usurp power. The Crown is the ultimate guarantee of all our
freedoms. We are already an independent sovereign Nation, both legally and
constitutionally.
Are you prepared to take the risk and accept the consequences of an ill-defined and
ill-conceived republic?
Don't you believe the government should be more concerned
with Unemployment, Health, Education, Aged Care, Tax Reform, Tariff Protection, Judiciary
Powers, Citizens Initiated Referenda, Immigration and Foreign Ownership, just to name a
few?
Conclusion - In the final analyse, it will be by a
majority of the Australian People that decides the outcome, at the ballot box. (...
see Section 128 of the Australian
Constitution) This decision must not
be taken lightly, as it will determine Australia's future.
The Australian Constitution
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Foreign Ownership
The reality of foreign ownership by multi-national companies
operating in Australia paying little or no tax, is one of the inevitable results of the
foreign take-over of Australian companies.
It ought to determine the approach that is taken by
Australian officials in the negotiations on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment.
This is part of the same structures as the:
and the rest of the lame duck policies in Australia's
foreign trade stable, into which we have been dragged by our Governments determination to
go along with the International Monetary Fund.
The Multilateral Agreement on Investment proposes that every
member of the World Trade Organisation (which includes Australia) must accord to foreign
companies full rights to establish themselves in all sectors of the economy of that
Country. Additionally, the so-called host country, "Australia", is required to
adjust its domestic laws - and, if necessary, to repeal any existing laws and policies -
that may favour local industries at the expense of the foreign companies. This means that
any significant local company in Australia will have an axe over its head.
Since the Australian Taxation Office has admitted that it
cannot effectively collect taxes from multinationals, (see Tax
Reforms) the Australian companies that will be taken over by them will effectively be,
free from tax.
The Federal Government must be "out
of its mind" to even consider such advantages to multinational
companies over Australian companies.
There must be immediate audit of the
Foreign Investment Review Board
for allowing an alleged 90% of Corporate Australia being foreign owned. A full review of
The
Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act - 1975 is imperative to eliminate current areas
subject to abuse and which are contrary to the national interest.
Australia's
wealth MUST be re-invested in Australia.
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Counting the votes for the Senate
The Senate count is more complicated than for the House of
Representatives, as there are 6 Senators (Queensland) elected at a half-election, and 12
Senators (Queensland) elected as a result of a double dissolution.
To be elected to the Senate, a candidate needs to gain a
quota of the total formal votes. The quota is calculated by dividing the total number of
formal ballot papers by one more than the number of Senators to be elected, and adding '1'
to the result (ignoring the remainder).
Total formal votes
_________________ + 1 = Quota required
Number of Senators + 1
Counting the first preference votes is done the same way as
for the House of Representatives election: the papers are sorted according to which
candidate has received the number '1' preference on each ballot paper. Candidates who
receive a quota, or more, of these first preferences are elected immediately.
Any surplus votes these elected candidates receive (i.e.
votes in excess of the quota required) are transferred to the candidates who were the
second choice of voters. However, they are transferred at a reduced value. Because it is
not possible to determine which votes actually elected the candidate and which votes are
surplus, all the elected candidates ballot papers are transferred at the reduced rate.
The reduced value of surplus votes is determined by dividing
the surplus by the total number of votes the elected candidate received.
Candidate's surplus votes
___________________ = Reduced value of each surplus vote
Candidate's total votes
As a result of this process of transferring surplus votes,
other candidates may be elected. If, however, all surplus votes from elected candidates
are transferred and there are still some unfilled positions, further counting is
undertaken.
Starting with the lowest scoring candidate, unelected
candidates are excluded from the count and their ballot papers are distributed to the
remaining candidates to whom the voters have given their preferences. When a candidate
gains a quota following the distribution, he or she is elected. The above process
continues until all Senate positions are filled.
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