In Australian history, the term Constitutional Convention refers to five distinct gatherings.

First convention

The first Constitutional Convention was held in Sydney in March 1891 to consider a draft Constitution for the proposed federation of the British colonies in Australia and New Zealand. There were 46 delegates at the Convention, chosen by the seven colonial parliaments. Among the delegates was Sir Henry Parkes, known as the "Father of Federation." The Convention approved a draft largely written by Sir Samuel Griffith, but the colonial parliaments failed to act to ratify it. The Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of over 4,200,000 people, and 151,920 within the city centre. ... Year 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... A map displaying todays federations. ... Sir Henry Parkes Sir Henry Parkes GCMG, (27 May 1815 – 27 April 1896) was an Australian politician, also called the Father of Federation because he was the one who started federation for australians and is at least considered the most prominent among the Australian Founding Fathers. ... Sir Samuel Griffith Sir Samuel Walker Griffith (June 21, 1845 - August 9, 1920), Australian politician and judge, was the principal author of the Constitution of Australia. ...

Second convention

The second Constitutional Convention was held in stages in 1897-98. Unlike the first Convention, the delegates were elected by popular vote. [1] It met first in Adelaide in March 1897, secondly in Sydney in August, and thirdly in Melbourne in the sweltering heat of January 1898. The intervals between the sessions were used for intense debate in the colonial parliaments and for public discussion of the draft Constitution. 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia, with a population of over 1. ... 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Melbournes CBD has grown to straddle the Yarra River in three major precincts. ... Year 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Since 1891 New Zealand had lost interest in federating with the Australian colonies, and was not represented. In Queensland, the parliament had not passed the necessary legislation, so the northern colony was also unrepresented. In the other five colonies ten delegates from each colony were elected by the people, although Western Australian attendance was sporadic. At Melbourne the Convention finally produced a draft Constitution which was eventually approved by the people at referendums in the colonies. Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Peter Beattie (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 28  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $158,506 (3rd)  - Product per capita  $40,170/person (6th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  4,070,400 (3rd)  - Density  2. ... Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $100,900 (4th)  - Product per capita  $50,355/person (3rd) Population (December 2006)  - Population  2,050,900 (4th)  - Density  0. ...

Third convention

The third Constitutional Convention was established by the Whitlam government in 1973 to consider possible amendments to the Constitution which could be put to the people for approval at a referendum. The Convention, which was not elected but consisted of delegates chosen by the federal and state Parliaments, met through 1973-75 but was mired in the partisan atmosphere of the Whitlam years and achieved nothing. Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC (born 11 July 1916), known as Gough Whitlam (, pronounced Goff), Australian politician and 21st Prime Minister of Australia. ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

Fourth convention

The fourth Constitutional Convention met in Canberra in February 1998. The Convention was convened by Prime Minister John Howard to fulfill a promise made by his predecessor as Liberal leader, Alexander Downer. During the Convention, Prime Minister John Howard dedicated an area of parkland to the south-east of Old Parliament House as Constitution Place, Canberra. For other uses, see Canberra (disambiguation). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939), Australian politician, is the Prime Minister of Australia. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... Alexander John Gosse Downer, MP (born 9 September 1951), Australian politician, became Foreign Minister of Australia in March 1996. ... Constitution Place, Canberra, May 2007. ...

The Convention consisted of 152 delegates, of whom half were elected by the people and half were appointed by the federal government. This latter group included senior federal, state and territory politicians appointed by virtue of their positions.

The Convention was divided into four philosophical groups: those wanting to retain Australia's existing constitutional monarchy, those wanting Australia to become a republic with a head of state chosen by the Parliament ("indirect electionists"), those wanting Australia to become a republic with a president elected by the people ("direct electionists"), and those having no fixed position or seeking a compromise between the other groups. Republicans dominated both groups but proved far from united in their views. This does not cite any references or sources. ...

The Convention eventually narrowly opted for the Bi-partisan appointment model, over the bitter opposition of the direct electionists. At the 1999 referendum the proposed amendments to the Constitution were rejected. The Bi-partisan appointment republican model is a proposal for Australian constitutional reform. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ...

South Australian convention

In August 2003, as part of the agreement in which Peter Lewis gave his support for Mike Rann, the State of South Australia held the South Australian Constitutional Convention to consider changes to the state constitution. Changes were recommended[2], but no action was taken. Hon. ... Michael David Rann (born 1953), Australian politician, is the 44th Premier of South Australia. ... Capital Adelaide Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Premier Mike Rann (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 11  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $59,819 (5th)  - Product per capita  $38,838/person (7th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  1,558,200 (5th)  - Density  1. ...

Further reading

• John A La Nauze, The Making of the Australian Constitution, Melbourne University Press 1972

See also

• History of Australia
• Australian Constitutional History
• Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act
• Monarchy in Australia
• Republicanism in Australia
• Republic Advisory Committee
• McGarvie Model

The history of Australia began when people first migrated to the Australian continent from the north, at least 40,000-45,000 years ago. ... Emergence of the Commonwealth of Australia Main article: Australian federation After European settlement in 1788, Australia was politically organized as a number of separate British colonies, eventually six in all. ... The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (in full, An Act to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia) is the primary constitutional text of the Commonwealth of Australia. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... Republicanism in Australia is the movement to change Australias status as a constitutional monarchy (a Commonwealth Realm) to a republican form of government (a Commonwealth republic). ... The Republic Advisory Committee was a committee established by the then Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating in May 1993 to examine the constitutional and legal issues that would arise were Australia to become a republic. ... The McGarvie Model is a proposition for change to the Australian Constitution to remove references to the monarchy and establish a republic. ...

External links

• Proceedings of the 1998 Convention
• The Australian Broadcasting Commission's 1998 Convention website
• The South Australian Constitutional Convention