Beyond Federation

Charter

Beyond Federation was established, on 8 January 2002, to encourage improvements to our Constitution and system of government that will benefit Australia and all Australians.

Members of Beyond Federation recognise ...

· The unsustainably high cost of the ‘three tier’ system of government in Australia, and the need to free up government resources to advance better outcomes for individuals, communities, groups, the environment, the economy, industry and businesses;

· That state and federal politicians have forced structural reforms on to local government, industry, business, employment, organisations and individuals, but have not taken necessary action to reform their own sphere;

· The need for the Australian Constitution to be the evolving document envisioned by its founders;

· The diversity of our country, and the desire and ability of people and communities – in cities and in each viable local region – to deal with their own local issues without excessive interference from centralised government;

· The desire of Australians to be rid of burdensome and inappropriate differences, between states and territories and sometimes between urban and rural areas, in laws, regulations and access to services, including such essentials as medical treatment, water, energy, communications and transport; and

· The need for uniform national laws.

Beyond Federation Supports ...

· A system of government that is: democratic, understandable, accountable, just, equitable, affordable, efficient, stable yet flexible, and socially, environmentally and economically sustainable; functionally effective in areas such as the environment, health and education; and centralised and decentralised in an appropriate balance;

· A Commonwealth government strengthened to be more responsive to the opportunities and needs of our country as a whole, and to our global circumstances;

· In place of existing state governments: local/regional structures that are close to and responsive to the opportunities and needs of people and communities;

· Congress meetings, and other collaborations, within and between communities, and within and between representative functional groups, to propose desirable reforms to our system of government;

· Continuing academic research to propose desirable government system reforms to enhance Australian life;

· Consensus-building, education, representation, organisation, legislation and constitutional changes to achieve needed reforms.

Members of the Beyond Federation network include:

· individuals from across the political spectrum;

· the Shed a Tier lobby group (http://www.shedatier.com.au/);

· the Foundation for National Renewal (http://www.national-renewal.org.au/Links/states.html);

· the Abolish States Collective (http://www.geocities.com/davidbofinger/asc.htm);

· the Abolish State Governments! (The Community Republicans) political party and the Regional Governments Now! lobby group (www.ablesoft.net/shedatier); and

· Republic Now! (http://www.republicnow.org/).