Lost opportunities and political barriers on the road to constitutional reform in South Australia

Abstract

This article is a study of the recent attempts to secure parliamentary and constitutional reform in South Australia through a representative Constitutional Convention held in August 2003. It examines the political context of this Convention from its political genesis at the hands of the independent Speaker of the House of Assembly through to the delivery of the final report to the Parliament. It is argued that the case for reform to sections of the South Australia Constitution, the electoral system and the administration of the Parliament is compelling, but concludes that the prospects of meaningful reform from this exercise are slight. The paper offers an assessment of the proposed changes and considers alternatives. It concludes by arguing that a representative convention is a less successful vehicle for securing constitutional reform and amendment than a process that emanates from, and is supported by, the principal political parties and the parliament itself.