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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
1998-99
The Parliament of
the
Commonwealth of
Australia
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Presented and read a first
time
Constitution
Alteration (Preamble) 1999
No. ,
1999
(Prime
Minister)
A Bill for an Act to alter the
Constitution to insert a preamble
ISBN: 0642
407681
Contents
A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution to insert a
preamble
The Parliament of Australia, with the approval of the
electors, as required by the Constitution, enacts:
This Act may be cited as the Constitution Alteration (Preamble)
1999.
This Act commences on 1 January 2001.
The Constitution is altered by inserting after the Title the preamble set
out in the Schedule to this Act.
The Constitution is altered by inserting after section 125 the following
section:
The preamble to this Constitution has no legal force and shall not be
considered in interpreting this Constitution or the law in force in the
Commonwealth or any part of the Commonwealth.
Preamble
With hope in God, the Commonwealth of Australia is constituted as a
democracy with a federal system of government to serve the common
good.
We the Australian people commit ourselves to this Constitution:
proud that our national unity has been forged by Australians from many
ancestries;
never forgetting the sacrifices of all who defended our country and our
liberty in time of war;
upholding freedom, tolerance, individual dignity and the rule of
law;
honouring Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, the nation’s first
people, for their deep kinship with their lands and for their ancient and
continuing cultures which enrich the life of our country;
recognising the nation-building contribution of generations of
immigrants;
mindful of our responsibility to protect our unique natural
environment;
supportive of achievement as well as equality of opportunity for
all;
and valuing independence as dearly as the national spirit which binds us
together in both adversity and success.