Skip to main content

index

Constitution of The Australian Greens Victoria Inc.
and The CharterThe Charter of The Greens which is appended to the National Constitution of The Greens

Version as at 2 January 2023.

ABN 11 616 265 905
Associations Incorporation Reform Actthe Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 2012 registration number A0027546F

Drafting Panel commentary
Overview

The constitution of a political partya political party registered under Commonwealth, state or territory law is its key governance document. An organisation consists of different people who will want different things and have different views. The constitution tells us how the members have decided that decisions will be made, how power is distributed and exercised, and who gets to decide what. Most people will agree that our Constitution needs to be both democratic – reflecting in some way the views of the membership – and effective – capable of giving effect to its objectives.

Below is a thematic explanation of what is proposed. Where important, clauses are mentioned.

The key elements of the proposed new structure are:

  • A new State Council of 15 members elected by proportional representation by all members.

  • Branches with – in practice – a largely unchanged role, but with the capacity to determine their own internal administrative structure.

  • Mandatory participatory and deliberative processes for members to establish policies and the party strategy.

  • Regular all-member forums.

  • Mandatory and specific affirmative action provisions, and a guaranteed right of participation for First Nations members at the top level of the Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1).

  • A much shorter and simpler document than we have now, leaving much more for party bodies and members to determine as needs arise.

  • A system under which members who are unhappy with a decision (or non- decision) by the State Council can, through their branches, initiate a discussion of that issue involving all members, aimed at developing consensusthe circumstance in which no member of the party body who is in attendance objects to the proposal being passed, having been given the opportunity to do so, and in certain circumstances having the issue resolved by a vote of all members.

  • A Constitutional Votes Committee responsible for the integrity of elections and for member votes under the Constitution.