Australia's Constitution
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ustralia’s ConstitutionA An information booklet brought to you by the Federal Member for Riverina MICHAEL McCORMACK MP UNITED IN PEACE, TOGETHER WE STAND Australia’s nationhood, unlike many other countries of the world, was achieved with a vote, not a war. Our democratic Parliament was founded in 1901 after many years of grand speeches, negotiations and meetings. Premier Sir Henry Parkes (1815-96), who served five terms as Premier of New South Wales, is remembered BIG NEWS: How The Wagga Wagga Express as the “Father of Federation”, even though he did not reported the inaugural Federal elections. live to see its creation. VISION SPLENDID: Snow-capped mountains are a magnificent backdrop to He was a passionate advocate for uniting the six Parliament House. colonies. On 24 October 1889, at the Tenterfield School of Arts, Sir Henry delivered his famous Federal Member for Riverina MICHAEL McCORMACK MP Tenterfield Oration. The new parliament had the authority to make decisions about communications, currency, customs, This speech was seen as a clarion call to federalists defence, quarantine restrictions, trade and other and he called for a convention “to devise the Melbourne was the seat of government until the It is so important that we encourage everyone, matters. constitution which would be necessary for bringing Provisional Parliament House in Canberra began especially young people, to take an interest in politics into existence a federal government with a federal operation on 9 May 1927. The present 4700-room and the way in which our country is governed. I hope Australia’s new flag was soon flying proudly across parliament for the conduct of national undertaking”. Parliament House on Capital Hill was opened by you can learn more about our democratic system of the nation. Its design was chosen after a worldwide Queen Elizabeth II on 9 May 1988. government. competition in which there were five winners with There was a series of meetings to consider federation. similar ensigns. Two of the successful entrants were Between 1897 and 1898 a Constitution was drafted This publication is a joint initiative of the Attorney- teenagers. setting out the organisation and procedures for a General’s Department, the Australian Government federal government. Solicitor and the Parliamentary Education Office. It Federal elections for the inaugural Parliament of contains an overview of the Constitution and profiles Australia were held in Australia on 29 March and In June 1898 voters in Victoria, South Australia and of the 14 Members of Riverina since Federation. MICHAEL McCORMACK MP 30 March 1901 following Federation and the Tasmania approved this Constitution, however, in I trust it will enhance the reader’s knowledge of the Federal Member for Riverina establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia. NSW the majority of “Yes” votes for the proposals fell Constitution and heighten your appreciation of the short of the required number. document which underpins and sustains one of the world’s most successful democracies. Queensland and Western Australia did not vote. A second referendum was conducted in 1898 except Western Australia and the “Yes” vote won. West Commonwealth Electorate Division of RIVERINA (NSW) Australians voted in 1900 and came out in favour, with 2011 Local Electorate Boundaries too. Commonwealth Electoral Division of RIVERINA (NSW) 2009 with 2011 Local Government Boundaries The Commonwealth of Australia was finally formed CommonwCommonwealthealth Electoral Electoral Division Division of RIVERINA of RIVERINA (NSW) (NSW) 2009 2009 on 1 January 1901 as a union of the six colonies, withwi 2011th 2011 Local Local Government Government Boundaries Boundaries now called states. The Duke of York, later King George V, opened Australia’s first Federal Parliament in Melbourne on 9 May 1901. The new Parliament had an Upper House called FIRST AND FOREMOST: John Chanter (left) and Edmund the Senate with six members from each State and Barton, who were the MP for Riverina and the Prime Minister a 75-member Lower House called the House of respectively in our foundation Federal Parliament. Representatives in which: The Protectionist Party, led by Edmund Barton who • NSW had 26 seats (including Riverina); would become the first Prime Minister, won 31 of • Victoria had 23 seats; the 75 seats, more than any other party. George 0 0 10 10 LegendLegend • Queensland had 9 seats; Reid’s Free Trade Party won 28 seats and Labour (the CED RivCEDerina Riverina 0 ly) ly) 10 on on LGA Boundary Legend 0 . LGA Boundary 50 5ox ox pr pr ap ap • South Australia had 7 seats; and le le party dropped the “u” from its name in 1912) won a ca LocalityLocality sc s CED Riverina s ( s ( tre tre e me Major Road lom lo Major Road Ki Ki ly) • Tasmania and Western Australia had 5 seats 0 0 on LGA Boundary 14 seats. Barton, supported by the first Member for 0 . 5 ox pr ap Disclaimer:Disclaimer: While every While care everyis taken care to isensure taken theto ensure accuracy the of accuracy the data of within the data this withinproduct, this the product, owners the of ownersthe data of (including the data (includingthe State, Territorythe State, and Territory Commonwealth and Commonwealth Governments Governments of Australia) of doAustralia) not make do any not representationsmake any representations le or warrantiesor warranties about its accuracy, about its reliability,accuracy, completenessreliability, completeness or suitability or forsuitability any particular for any purposeparticular and, purpose to the and, extent to thepermitted extent bypermitted law, the by owners law, the of ownersthe data of disclaim the data all disclaim responsibility all responsibility and all liability and all(including liability (includingwithout limitation, without limitation, ca Locality each. liability in negligence)liability in negligence) for all expenses, for all expenses,losses, damages losses, (including damages (includingindirect or indirectconsequential or consequential damages) anddamages) costs whichand costs might which be incurred might be as incurred a result asof athe result data of being the data inaccurate being inaccurate or incomplete or incomplete in any way in and any for way any and reason. for any reason. (s Riverina John Chanter, was invited to form a minority es © Commonwealth© Commonwealth of Australia of A ustralia2011. This 2011. map This is based map is on based data onprovided data provided under licence under fromlicence PSMA fromAu PSMAstraliaAu Limitedstralia Limited(www.psma.com.au) (www.psma.com.au) (Spatial (SpatialData, Jul Data, 2010), Jul 2010), etr data thatdata is © that Commonwealth is © Commonwealth of Australia of A ustralia(Australian (Australian Electoral Electoral Commission) Commission) 2009 and 2009 data and that data is © that NSW is Department© NSW Department of Lands of 2011. Lands 2011. PL947-KMI-240611PL947-KMI-240611 lom Major Road Ki government. 0 Disclaimer: While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the data within this product, the owners of the data (including the State, Territory and Commonwealth Governments of Australia) do not make any representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and, to the extent permitted by law, the owners of the data disclaim all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damages) and costs which might be incurred as a result of the data being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason. © Commonwealth of Australia 2011. This map is based on data provided under licence from PSMA Australia Limited (www.psma.com.au) (Spatial Data, Jul 2010), data that is © Commonwealth of Australia (Australian Electoral Commission) 2009 and data that is © NSW Department of Lands 2011. PL947-KMI-240611 What do a prize fighter, an Irishman, a publican, a man credited with starting more Melbourne Cups Welcome than anyone, a soldier and the State’s first female tow truck driver have in common? They all served Thank you for taking the as Member for Riverina in the Federal Parliament! time to read through this In the following pages there are biographies of the informative booklet, which is 14 people privileged to have been given the honour a great guide to the Australian of representing this great region. Parliament. They are interesting individuals, who all had the collective aim of progressing the area they called The Australian Government home. (also known as the The seat of Riverina had a name change to Riverina- Commonwealth or Federal Darling from 1984-93 with Noel Hicks serving the Government) was designed electorate throughout that time. to bring each of Australia’s communities together. Members for Riverina First incarnation (1901–1984) ‘The way our country MEMBER PARTY TERM was formed is unique - John Chanter Protectionist 1901–1903 we were formed with Robert Blackwood Free Trade 1903–1904 a vote, not a war’ John Chanter Protectionist 1904–1910 Labor 1910–1913 We are also one of the very Franc Falkiner Commonwealth Liberal 1913–1914 few countries in the world John Chanter Labor 1914–1917 that actually began as a true Nationalist 1917–1919 democracy - where ordinary Nationalist and Farmers and Settlers 1919-1922 people have the power to choose their own leaders and William Killen Country 1922–1931 where people are treated Horace Nock Country 1931–1940 equally under the law. Joseph Langtry Labor 1940–1949 Hugh Roberton