Constitution is fine
Nothing wrong with our Constitution when it sets the requirements for those who wish to sit as an elected member in one of our parliaments.
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The issue is with those who wish to become parliamentarians simply satisfying the criteria to be considered for election.
Section 44 in essence state you cannot be a dual national, so if you have a parent or yourself have been born overseas you must ensure you have relinquished that citizenship and provide appropriate proof that this has been done before contesting at an election.
Do this and you will have satisfied all constitutional requirements when considering contesting an election.
B. Cumberland, North Nowra
Rule may have been broken
With everything that is happening in regard to elected members and senators of the federal parliament being found to have been elected unconstitutionally and therefore non-members, thought is being given to legislation that has either been passed or defeated reliant upon the votes of these non-members.
The High Court, in the 1907 case of Vardon v O’Loghlin, ruled that, where the election of a senator is invalid, the return of that senator: “… is regarded ex necessitate as valid for some purposes unless and until it is successfully impeached”. Thus the proceedings of the Senate as a House of Parliament are not invalidated by the presence of a senator without title. The Court confirmed this more recently in re: Wood (1988).
However, one wonders whether this would apply in the case of Barnaby Joyce who has been found to be a citizen of New Zealand but who is required by the prime minister to remain in the Parliament and in office. If Barnaby Joyce votes in the Parliament knowing that he is a citizen of what is considered to be by the High Court a “foreign power”, then it may be found that he, together with the prime minister, have purposely defied the constitution.
P. Benwell, National Chair, Australian Monarchist League
Not all homes are bad
There has been much publicity recently regarding the standard of care and treatment in nursing homes but not all are the same.
Jonathan Rogers GC House in Nowra, a not-for-profit organisation run by RSL LifeCare, is one such place.
My wife, Mary, has been in three homes. The first two were for short periods and now she has been in Jonathan Rogers for over five years.
Our experience there has been quite favourable in regard to the management, care, treatment and friendliness of the staff.
I have spoken to other carers and they tend to agree, making the point that while it is a big organisation (with 30 retirement homes) with so many different personalities, they do a very personal and caring job and generally like the contact and care that they provide to the elderly residents.
If you need to be in a nursing home, then Jonathan Rogers GC House in Nowra is a good place to be.
B. Kenny, Nowra
Deal with North Korea
North Korea’s threat to the world and their own people has gone on long enough. The UN along with all civilised countries cannot continue giving benefit of doubt to tragedies the like of Syria where it was just as plain to see the country was run by a dictator and thousands would lose their lives.
When trapped citizens of any country are about to have their lives taken from them by a maniac and the very real possibility of other countries being nuclear targets, the time for waiting is over. The civilised running of any country can’t be structured on religion, money, culture, trade or greed.
Destroying countries is about destroying lives and we must move to save them now, not tomorrow.