Beyond Federation – Options to renew Australia’s 1901 Constitution – edited by Klaas Woldring

Product details

Paperback: 180 pages

Publisher: Beyond Federation

ISBN: 978-0-9941871-0-9

Trim size: 153 x 229 mm

Synopsis

Australia has been a federation for more than a hundred years, and an independent country for more than seventy. But its system of government is still based on political compromises thrashed out in the late nineteenth century. In particular, the division of power between national and state governments is dysfunctional, irrelevant to the twenty-first century, and it costs us many billions of dollars every year.

Author Biographies:
Geoff Armstrong
B.Sc. (For.) Dip. For. MIFA. Graduated 1950. 1950-1986; managed (including planning) of natural areas in State Forests and National Parks in NSW. Member on numerous statutory government bodies. Consultant to International Commission CNPPA for 7 years. 1985-1996, developed, managed, then leased ecotourist/environmental study (Wangat Lodge) in Hunter Valley. 1992-5 with wife Isabel transcribed and published 19th century diaries detailing educational, social and political life in NSW. Retired to Canberra 2006.

David Bofinger
David has managed to avoid the political experience and relevant qualifications of some authors in this anthology. His career as a scientist ended after a Ph.D. in theoretical physics, and now he mathematically models naval operations to advise the Australian Department of Defence on what ships the Royal Australian Navy needs to be given. He sees his interest in the reform of federation as an extension of a lifelong love of history, into trying to make it.

Max Bradley
Max is a foundation member of Beyond Federation; has been a Councillor of the rural Berrigan Council, NSW for several years. He developed the “Shed-a-Tier” concept and participated in the thirteen Beyond Federation conferences.

Mark Drummond, Ph. D.
Mark is a founder of Beyond Federation and has been Convener of the Group since 2001. He initiated and organised thirteen Beyond Federation conferences in the eastern States and ACT between 2001 and 2005 and developed the Australia United Plan in 2009. He was in the Australian Navy from 1985 till 1999 and has been a teacher in the Navy, at TAFE, and in universities, and is now a High School mathematics teacher in Canberra.

Anthony Nicholas
Anthony and wife Margaret (who wrote the Preface) is a fourth generation Australian. After dabbling in engineering courses and paid work, he qualified for a BSc (mathematical statistics). Commonwealth Public Service 1959 – 1986, mainly teamwork on quantitative solutions to technical and economic issues. Briefly involved in ALP and, as Policy Coordinator, with the ‘Australia Party’ until Don Chip’s take-over. Part-time lecturing at RMIT in mathematics, statistics & computer programming, before personal computers. “With only one life to live, we moved to a picturesque 140 ha farmlet in 1987, participating in LandCare, a no-toxic-waste campaign, an Ecoliving project; and Aged Care, included establishing the ‘Hughes Creek Catchment Collaborative’ in 1994, retired from board of Violet Town Bush Nursing Centre in 2011”.

Elizabeth Proust A. O.
Ms. Proust delivered the 2013 Kemsley Oration for the Planning Institute Australia, reproduced here with her permission. She has held leadership roles in the private and public sectors in Australia for over 30 years. She has an outstanding track record in leading organisations, and in involvement in a range of arts, charitable, university and business boards, for which she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2010. Elizabeth is Chairman of Nestle Australia Ltd, Chairman of Bank of Melbourne, a director of Perpetual Ltd, Spotless Ltd, Insurance Manufacturers Australia Pty Ltd, Sinclair Knight Merz Holdings Pty Ltd, and of Sports Australia Hall of Fame.

Jim Snow
Jim served as member for Eden Monaro for five terms until 1996 and chaired the Keating government caucus from 1993-1996. Owned and managed pharmacies in Victoria and Canberra. Established Queanbeyan City Council’s Community Workers’ Department between 1975 and 1977. Raised stud angora goats for 17 years. Qualified at the Victorian College of Pharmacy (now part of Monash University). Voluntary youth probation officer Victoria, President and Secretary of the Salaried Pharmacists Association, Honorary Lieutenant pharmacist, Army Reserve for many years. Former convenor of Beyond Federation, and member of the Drug Law Reform Foundation.

Justin Smith
Justin Smith is a broadcaster, journalist and writer. He has spent his career working in Australian radio. Formerly, he was the executive producer of the Neil Mitchell program at 3AW, Melbourne, as well as presenting his own programs. In 2013 he presented a series of programs from Afghanistan for the Fairfax Radio network. He has received multiple awards for his work, and is now a host on talk radio 2UE 954 in Sydney, a regular on TV, and writes for The Daily Telegraph.

Klaas Woldring, Ph. D.
Retired A/Prof of Southern Cross University, Lismore (1999), taught Government and Management subjects. Foundation member of Beyond Federation. Migrated from the Netherlands 1959, employed in hospitality industry Netherlands, Southern and Central Africa; re-migrated to Australia in 1964, employed 4.5 years in Chevron Hilton Hotel; then 29 years in tertiary institutions as an academic; married, four children, nine grandchildren. Published: Beyond Political Independence (Zambia), Mouton 1984; Business Ethics in Australian and New Zealand, ITP Nelson (1996); AUSTRALIA: Republic or US Colony? Lulu, (2005); How about OUR Republic? BookSurge (2006); Australia Reconstructed – Bold steps to improve voter representation and the political landscape, eBook BookPod/Amazon (2013).

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