Professor George Williams, the Anthony Mason Professor of Law at the University of New South Wales, told delegates that he is confident constitutional recognition is achievable and prospects for success are quite high so long as the campaign is run properly.
He said the absence of Local Government in our Constitution goes to the very heart of our democracy.
“It is something that is broken and should be fixed,” Professor Williams said. “So how can we win?”
“Australia is exceptional as far as being very slow to change its Constitution.
Forty-four proposals have been put to the people since Federation but only eight have been successful. The last time a proposal was passed was in 1977, so nobody aged less than 49 years has voted in a referendum that has actually changed our Constitution.
“This is now the second longest period since the last successful change.”
Professor Williams said to be successful the following four key elements need to be met:
- bipartisan support from political parties
- adequate public education
- popular ownership
- a sound and sensible proposal.
He said when all four elements have been present no previous proposal has failed.
He said bipartisan support must be secured early and that the seeds for this are already there with the National Party behind it.
“People must feel confident that by voting ‘yes’ it will not bring the sky down,” he said. “There must be effective public education that is not too complicated because people will vote ‘no’ if they don’t understand.”
He said people will not support a proposal that they have no involvement in – or that doesn’t relate to their lives or their community.
“The proposal must be seen as necessary and needed to fix a serious problem,” Professor Williams said. “And by supporting this, it will bring benefits to their lives.
“Written material is not that successful. Engaging people directly through local mock conventions and forums is much better. This must be a grassroots movement.
“I believe it is conceivable that a referendum can be won in the next two to three years.”
