Constitution (Requests) Bill 1999 (Qld)

Queensland

CONSTITUTION (REQUESTS) BILL 1999

CONSTITUTION (REQUESTS) BILL 1999

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

Section Page 1 Short title 200... 2 Commencement... 1.0.06... eee c eee eee 3 PUIPOSE one eens 4 Request for Commonwealth legislation....................0.000000.

A BILL

FOR

An Act to request the amendment of the Statute of Westminster 1931 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and _ the

Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act of that Parliament in connection with proposed constitutional arrangements to establish the Commonwealth of Australia as a republic Constitution (Requests)

Preamble—

Parliament's reasons for enacting this Act are—

1. The Government of the Commonwealth proposes to introduce a Bill for a proposed law to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth to establish the Commonwealth of Australia as a republic with a President chosen by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Commonwealth Parliament.

2. If passed by an absolute majority of each House of the Parliament, the proposed law will be put to the Australian people at a constitutional referendum in accordance with section 128 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth.

3. If the proposed law is approved by the Australian people, it is desirable that—

(a) the Statute of Westminster 1931 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom be amended to remove any impediment to the amendment of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act of that Parliament by omitting the Preamble and repealing covering clauses 2 to 8; and

(b) the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act of that Parliament be amended by omitting the Preamble and repealing those covering clauses.

4. Section 15(1) of each of the Australia Act 1986 of the Commonwealth and the Australia Act 1986 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom provides for the amendment of the Statute of Westminster 1931 of the