AUSSIEINSIDER

The Constitution

The Australian Constitution is the law that all Parliamentarians and Executive Governments are bound by. In a democratic society constitutional law is not optional, it is the very instrument by which a democracy is defined. While the power to change it still rests with The People, the Parliamentarians and Executives are are busily working to phase it out via general consensus among themselves. Today, very few Australians understand the function and protections of the Constitution and, as such, it is very much in danger of being shelved in much the same manner as the Magna Carta.

UN Treaties

Many a government website boasts of Australia's long-term, proven track records in honouring its UN Treaties. However, nearly all NGO's, UN bodies and over 100 other member-nations report Australia as increasingly digressing in following through with its treaty commitments. If the government is not behaving as a UN member-nation, nor is it serving its own citizens, nor abiding by its own laws, it cannot claim to be a democratic institution anymore.

Democratic Principles

Former Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson has warned that politicians are attacking democratic institutions by removing important oversight mechanisms – threatening the separation of powers between the state and judiciary. Peter Dutton’s growing control over Australian deportation laws and the three government ministers who recently attempted to influence a case that was before the Supreme Court are just two such attacks eroding our democracy.

Code of Ethics

75% of parliament refuses to be bound by ethical principles of good governance:
1) To act honourably and fairly and solely in the public interest
2) To treat all citizens equally
3) To tell the truth
4) Not to mislead or deceive
5) Not to withhold or obfuscate information to which voters are entitled
6) Not to spend public money except for public benefit

Accountability

The media has proved to be an ineffective watch-dog against government corruption, often preferring sensationalism over accountability and prone to plugging its own party preferences, irrespective of truthfulness. What we have is very few non-partisan bodies who have the power or the inclination to hold Parliamentarians and Executive Governments accountable to the people who elected them. What we need is an independent authority that deems nobody above the law to watch over the law-makers and legislators and to keep the public updated on every move they make in our name.