The Turnbull Letters

Kerry Jones Flunks Flag Test Again

Even the Monarchists
can't tell the Difference

Changing the Flag:
Referendum or Plebiscite

Voting Rights Discrimination

The Australian Flag Debate



 

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Voting Rights Discrimination

The issue of who has the right to vote in Australian elections, referenda and plebiscites is of direct interest to Ausflag.

An overwhelming majority of Australians believe that only Australian Citizens should have voting rights, but this is not the case in practice. Certain non-citizens have voting rights in Australia, whilst other non-citizens are discriminated against by having no voting rights. This discrimination is based upon national origin.

This section details this little-known sting in Australia's electoral laws that goes to the heart of just who should have the right to change our Government, Constitution, or flag.

? Who should vote?
A summary of the issues by Carol Foley, author of The Australian Flag.
 
? Newspaper Articles
  – Expats thumb their nose at change
The Age, 2 September 1999.
  – Aussie brits put republic at risk
The Australian, 1 September 1999, p.3.
  – Monarchists slam bid to stop UK citizens voting
ABC News, 1 September 1999.
  – Ausflag calls for Brits to be barred from republic referendum
The World Today, 1 September 1999.
  – British still get final say
The Sun-Herald, 14 September 1997, p.35.
  – Right to vote
Editorial, The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 September 1997, p.14.
  – Our British voters may not count
Editorial, The Australian, 10 September 1997, p.12.
  – Republicans attack Britons' right to vote
The Independent, 10 September 1997, p.11.
  – Migrants challenge republic vote rules
The Australian, 9 September 1997, p.1.
  – The wrongs of a selective right to vote
The Sun-Herald, 20 October1996, p.18.
  – Voting rights
The Sydney Morning Herald, Editorial, 23 September 1996, p.12.
  – Court bid on British vote rights
The Australian, 16 September 1996, p.4.
  – Brits – no right to the Aussie vote
The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 September 1996, p.13.
  – Let's have an Aussie only vote on the flag
The Sun-Herald, 28 April 1996, p.20.
  – Schooled on British subjects
The Australian, Weekend Review, 8-9 October 1994, p.16.
  – Non-citizens become a factor
The Financial Review, August 31, 1993.
  – Pommie votes 'break law'
The Australian, 20 April 1989, p.1.
 
? Letters
  – Harold Scruby
Letter to the Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, 5 May 1999.
  – Harold Scruby
Letter to the Editor of The Australian, 29 July 1998.
  – Peter Collins
Letter from the NSW Opposition Leader to Harold Scruby, 18 February 1998.
  – Amanda Cornwall
Letter from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre to Harold Scruby, 30 August 1996.
  – Angela Chan
Letter from the Ethnic Communities' Council to John Howard, 16 October 1996.
  – Chris Puplick
Letter from the Anti-Discrimination Board to Harold Scruby, 21 May 1996.
  – Harold Scruby
Letter to the Editor of The Australian, 14 March 1992.
  – Philip Ruddock
Reply by Philip Ruddock, The Australian, 21 March 1992.
  – Irene Moss
Letter from the Race Discrimination Commissioner to the Attorney-General, 8 February 1989.
  – Harold Scruby
Letter to the Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, 16 February 1988.
 
? Ausflag Media Releases
  – Fatal Shore Reversed – British Convicts Sent Home.
Scruby calls on Abbott to "Please Explain"
(30 July 2000)
  – Leading Researchers Believe British Subjects
Could Roll Republic – High Court Challenge Anticipated
(31 August 1999)
  – Ausflag and FECCA Call on Constitutional Convention
to Ensure a Non-Discriminatory Vote for the Republic and the Flag
(6 February 1998)
  – 81% believe only Australians should vote in Elections and Referendums
(16 September 1996)
  – Government Accepts Ausflag Advice
(27 June 1996)