Alternative Preambles

Debate over whether Australia should become a Republic has led to discussion of revisions to the Constitution. One element of this is a proposed Preamble. The Prime Minister released his preferred draft preamble on 23rd March 1999.

Now, some people (quite a lot, actually) disagree with the PM's version, and some of them aren't taking it quite as seriously as he'd like: as a result some less than reverent alternative versions have been penned.

Index

• the Prime Minister's draft preamble
• a long one by Tim Ferguson
• a short one extolling the virtues of Boonie
• the Cricketer's preamble, suggested by Tony Merlo
• the shortest one of all, suggested by Dean Jaensch
• one provided by Kirsty M
• a bogus "PM" version, also courtesy of KM
• the Babelfish version (courtesy of Altavista)
• some verse in the form of a Saga by John Blayney
• Cartoonist Bill Leak's verson*
• Thomas Keneally's elegant version*
• David Williamson's version*
• Donald Horne's version*
• Phillip Adams' version*
• Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett's version
• the Labor/Democrats/Greens version, based on Gareth Evans'
• the original preamble to the 1900 Constitution
• A serious version with commentary by John Pyke

and, just for good measure,

• the preamble to the Constitution of the United States

* these, and others, were published on The Australian web pages, here.