By Richard E McGarvie

 
The Conference was originally designed so that it would have before it one proposed process which it could consider, amend, substitute for or approve.  For that purpose Jack Hammond QC and I prepared and proposed a detailed process based on but in some ways extending the process advanced in Paper 38.  The original design would have left the amendment of that process or the substitution of another process to the ordinary procedures under the rules of debate.  Paper 44 and earlier papers on the Conference were written while that was the design and are to be read in that context.

From an early stage an invitation was extended to Australians to propose alternative processes for display on the Conference website and consideration by the Conference.

In September 2001 the current design of the Conference was adopted.  The invitation to propose processes for the resolution of the head of state issue of whether the federation separate from the monarchy has been put on a basis to suit this.  Australians are invited to submit for display on the Conference website process proposals in not more than 1,500 words and an executive summary of it in not more than 350 words.  The proposal must include a description of the steps necessary to implement it should it be chosen as the Conference recommendation or plan.  In addition those proposing a process may at the same time or later contribute for display on the website a more extensive argument for why their process should be preferred.  The proposal, executive summary and argument should be sent by email to the Administrator at discussion@corowaconference.com.au for display on the www.corowaconference.com.au website.  If unable to be sent by email they may be typed and posted to The Administrator, Centenary of Federation Victoria at 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne, Victoria, 3002 or faxed to (03) 9285 6301.

If more than five processes are proposed and displayed, the registered members of the Conference, informed by what is on the website, will, before the Conference, determine by postal vote the five processes with most support.

On the first day of the Conference, in an order fixed by ballot, each of those five processes will be given sole attention for an hour when it will be considered and debated.  At the end of the hour no decision will be made but the Conference will concentrate on the next of the five until all have had their hour of consideration.

On the second day the Conference members will vote in a secret preferential ballot to choose the preferred process.  The Conference will recommend that Australia follow that chosen process.

The process proposed by Jack Hammond QC and me, which is summarised and set out in Papers 46 and 47 below, is displayed on the Corowa Conference website as 'Proposal 1'.  It will be one of those in the pre-Conference vote and if that shows it to be one of the five with most support, it will be considered at the Conference.

The Conference is now usually being called, 'The Peoples Conference Corowa 2001'.

The program for the two days of the Conference is shown on the Conference website.

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