Remember the Constitutional Convention Australia?

The Electoral Reform Society of South Australia (ERSSA) today marked the first anniversary of the tabling in Parliament of the Issues Deliberation Australia Report on the 2003 Constitutional Convention Australia, renewing its call for the State Government to formally respond to the parliamentary reform agenda that emerged from that landmark event.

“In August last year, Parliament hosted a Constitutional Convention Australia that developed a range of thoughtful proposals to improve South Australia’s parliamentary system,” said Deane Crabb, Secretary of the Society.

“It is time the Government indicated its intentions regarding these proposals.”

A Major Milestone in Democratic Dialogue

The 2003 Constitutional Convention Australia was a rare and important occasion that brought together delegates from across South Australia – community members, academics, and public officials – to discuss ways of modernising the State’s system of government.

Since then, two reports have been tabled in Parliament:

1. The Issues Deliberation Australia Report, and
2. A Delegates’ Report summarising the Convention’s findings and recommendations.

However, no formal statement or response has yet been made by the Government on either report.

Key Recommendations from the Convention

The Convention produced a clear and practical set of recommendations aimed at strengthening democracy and improving parliamentary accountability. These included:

• Reducing the current eight-year terms for Members of the Legislative Council to four years;
• Increasing the independence of the Speaker of the House of Assembly;
• Enhancing citizen participation in parliamentary processes;
• Introducing optional preferential voting, allowing voters to indicate preferences only for candidates they genuinely support – no more and no less; and
• Establishing multi-member electorates, to make representation more proportional and reflective of voter sentiment.

“The Convention was an occasion where people from all around the State came together to discuss how our parliamentary system could be improved,” Mr Crabb said.

“It represented genuine public engagement in the democratic process – something that should be encouraged, not ignored.”

Silence from Government

Despite the significance of the event, the Government has yet to respond to these reform proposals or outline its position on the recommendations.

Mr Crabb noted that other democracies are acting more decisively:

“British Columbia in Canada recently went through a similar process,” he said.
“But in their case, the results of the Citizens’ Assembly are being put to a referendum at their next election.

“Here in South Australia, by contrast, the outcomes of our Constitutional Convention have been left in limbo.”

A Call for Continuing Reform

The Electoral Reform Society believes that the 2003 Constitutional Convention should not be treated as a one-off exercise, but as the beginning of an ongoing process of civic participation and democratic renewal.

“The Society wants to see these conventions become a continuing part of our democratic system in South Australia,” Mr Crabb said.
“Unfortunately, it appears the Government has given up after the first try.”

Background

The South Australian Constitutional Convention, held in August 2003, was convened to consider potential reforms to the State’s parliamentary structure, electoral systems, and methods of public participation. It was the largest gathering for constitutional reform in South Australia in decades.

The Convention’s outcomes represented a cross-section of community views and provided a blueprint for modernising State governance.

One year on, the Electoral Reform Society argues that the lack of follow-up risks undermining the momentum for democratic reform that the Convention inspired.