This year, 2009, marks 60 years of citizenship in Australia, so it is fitting that on Constitution Day 2009 a citizenship ceremony was held in every state capital around the country. Below is the message that the new citizens heard at the commencement of the ceremony.
Today, 9 July, is a very special date – not just for our new citizens here, but for all Australians. It is Constitution Day. On this date in 1900, Queen Victoria signed the Royal Commission of Assent, and by doing so, made law the ‘Act to Constitute the Commonwealth of Australia’.
Her signature effectively bound a collection of British colonies, with diverse interests and identities, into the nation we are proud to call Australia. You could call today the birthday of our nation.
The National Archives is very proud to display both those documents – the original Constitution Act that passed through Westminster Parliament – and the signed Royal Commission of Assent – in a special gallery in its national office in Canberra. Many Australians visit us specifically to see those documents. However we would like to see even more visitors taking the opportunity to see them and recognise their significance.
The Australian Constitution isn’t just a century-old piece of paper. It is a living document that affects the life of every Australian today. It is a document which was drawn up the people of Australia, and belongs to the people of Australia.
Australia was not forged through revolution or bloodshed, but through negotiation and referendum. It is remarkable achievement that the founders of the Constitution were able to peaceably draw up a document that would allow Australians to live by their democratic ideals. It is even more remarkable, given the changes in society and technology, that this document is as relevant to Australians now as it was when it was created over 100 years ago.
The Constitution sets out how our nation works and how we, as Australians, can shape it. It gives us the right to vote, it enables representatives of the people to govern and it establishes the three arms of government: the Parliament, the Executive and the Judiciary.
Above all, the Constitution recognises the sovereignty of the Australian people. It is the people of Australian who alone have the power to change it. It defines our rights and responsibilities as citizens.
It is these rights and responsibilities as citizens which have lead us to combine Constitution Day events with today’s ceremony to welcome new citizens. I hope that today’s event will inspire you to think about your rights and responsibilities in our Australian democracy.
Through the eyes of our new citizens we have the opportunity to reflect on the democratic beliefs, rights and liberties contained in the Constitution. We have the opportunity to move forward and respond actively to change, while still respecting tradition.
So today, as well as celebrating our new Australian citizens, we celebrate the birth of our Constitution and our nation. This is a day for us to ‘own’ our Constitution and celebrate how it has shaped our nation past and present – and to imagine how we can take it into the future together as Australians.