Timely makeover for post-Fitzgerald Queensland

As part of the lead-up to the Centenary of Federation celebrations in Australia, the Queensland chapter of the Constitutional Centenary Foundation will host a Public Seminar at the Customs House on Saturday, 14 October.

Seminar organiser, Nonie Malone, says that a proposal for a new Constitution for Queensland is the subject of what promises to be a lively debate.

"The seminar will offer a range of authoritative perspectives on proposals to update the Queensland Constitution, urging Queenslanders to consider a call to breathe new life into a dated document that arguably fails to provide the framework for a healthy democratic environment," Ms Malone said.

Keynote speakers include:
- the State Attorney-General, the Honorable Matt Foley,
- the Shadow Attorney-General Lawrence Springborg,
- Constitutional law experts Professor Cheryl Saunders (University of Melbourne) and Dr Suri Ratnapala (University of Queensland).

Distinguished speakers in a panel discussion also include:
- Justice Roslyn Atkinson,,
- Dr Rae Wear (University of Queensland),
- Professor Gerard Carney (Bond University),
- Dr David Solomon (Contributing Editor to the Courier-Mail and former Chair of the Electoral and Administrative Review Committee),
- Jackie Huggins (Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation) and
- student representative David de Jersey.

"It is important that all Queensland people have an open and informed discussion about the constitution - whether we should have a new one, what it contains and what it should contain. This forum provides that opportunity", Justice Atkinson said.

Professor Ratnapala said he would be explaining why Constitutions matter, arguing that, while some constitutions look good on paper, in practice they may not deliver.

In a forum aimed at covering social, economic and political ground, Professor Ratnapala said he would also emphasise the connections between Constitutional law and the economic wellbeing of communities.

In contrast, Dr Wear said her paper entitled Don't You Worry About That Constitutionalism in Queensland stemmed from public disillusionment with contemporary politics and the need for structural support for democratic practice, in particular public participation in the policymaking process.

The seminar is open to the public and will be held at Customs House, 399 Queen Street, Brisbane with a registration cost of $10 (registration inquiries to John Blake, telephone 3356 1897, fax 3356 3687).

For more information, contact Noni Malone, Centre for Public Administration, University of Queensland (telephone 07 3365 7337 (work), 07 3368 4006 (home), 0412 023 209 (mobile))

Other media contacts: Dr Ratnapala (Faculty of Law UQ): 07 3365 2460 (work); 3374 0765 (home); 0411 209 496 (mobile).
Available for interview anytime Wednesday 4 October or by appointment.

Dr Rae Wear (Department of Government UQ): 3365 2090 (work).
Available for interview after 2pm Friday, 28 September or Monday, 2 October after 3pm, in Canberra rest of next week. (Tip: One Nation, what young people think of contemporary politics, two aspects of politics canvassed in her paper).

Professor Cheryl Saunders (University of Melbourne) per Marian Schoen 0414 934 918 (mobile).