ECONOMIC REFORM AUSTRALIA
CONSTITUTION
OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS
1. The name of the Association shall be: "Economic Reform Australia", referred to herein as "the Association".
2. In these rules, unless the contrary intention appears -
"committee" means a working or research committee of the Association;
"meeting" means a meeting of members of the Association convened in accordance with these rules, and may be a general meeting, an annual general meeting or an extraordinary meeting;
"member" means a member of the Association;
"the act" means the Associations Incorporation Act, 1985;
"the regulations" means the Association's regulations - under the Associations Incorporation Act, 1985, which refers to one or more rules carried at a general meeting.
"quorum" means the minimum number of members at a meeting required to pass binding resolutions.
"amendments" means any changes to this constitution which require notification to the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs.
OBJECTS
The Association is established to:
3(i) Promote and achieve community acceptance of the view that Australia should, for its continuing survival and prosperity, adopt policies which are (a) ecologically sustainable 1 and socially equitable 2 , and (b) promote satisfactory development of the country's social fabric and infrastructure, consistent with the achievement of part (a).
3(ii) Inform and educate the public to understand that the most effective means whereby object 3(i) can be adequately achieved is by the adoption of a steady-state economy 3 and a stable financial system 4 ;
3(iii) In order to achieve 3(i) and 3(ii), inform and educate the community about the view that additions to the national money supply 5 , of currency in circulation and retail banking deposits, should be comprised of interest-free state fiat money created by the Reserve Bank of Australia 6 rather than by the commercial banking system under conditions of considerable leverage;
3(iv) Assist and promote the objectives of those individuals and groups who actively campaign for government and community support for Australian-owned companies which produce and sell Australian-made products manufactured from Australian raw materials;
3(v) Actively campaign for the adoption of measures designed to minimise foreign indebtedness;
3(vi) Inform and educate the general community about the need to incorporate basic human, social and environmental goals and values in standard economic models, and cooperate and liaise with other organisations dedicated to achieving the same objective;
3(vii) Promote and adopt an activist approach, in regard to implementing a program of economic reform 7 ;
3(viii) Take all such steps and do all such things as are agreed by the Association in order to achieve these objects.
METHODS OF ACHIEVING THE OBJECTS
The objects of the Association shall be achieved by:
4(i) Promoting and undertaking research relevant to the objects;
4(ii) Disseminating the results of such research within the wider community;
4(iii) Indicating the technical means whereby the objects may be achieved with the minimum of dislocation to commercial activity and to the community;
4(iv) Co-operating with and assisting other bodies and individuals whose principal objects are similar to those of the Association.
POWERS
In order to administer and execute the objects, the Association shall have power to
5(i) Encourage, co-operate with, and provide support to organisations with the same or similar objects to those of the Association;
5(ii) Present a common viewpoint on behalf of like-minded organisations to appropriate bodies and to the public;
5(iii) Establish or disband working and research groups and committees, appoint consultants, representatives and liaison officers, and appoint nominees to any position;
5(iv) Act as a clearing house and repository of information on matters relevant to the objects;
5(v) Provide information and assistance to individuals, institutions and organisations in order to promote an interest in, and knowledge of, matters relating to the objects of the Association;
5(vi) Do all such things as may be necessary, expedient or desirable to carry out the objects of the Association as stated herein.
WORKING AND RESEARCH COMMITTEES
6(i) In establishing a working or research group or committee, members in general meeting shall prescribe the terms of reference, stating (a) the objects of the committee, its powers, its ambit, duration, responsibilities and duties; (b) how it is to be composed; (c) how and when it is to report back to a general meeting of the Association.
6(ii) Where one or more members participating in any meeting of the Association encounter a potential or actual conflict of interest with respect to any matter under discussion, such persons shall declare their interest in that matter forthwith to the meeting. Furthermore, if a vote on that matter is required, a majority at the meeting shall determine whether those persons may vote on that matter.
MEMBERSHIP
7(i) Any person applying for membership of the Association shall do so in writing with that person's signature and date of signing attached to the application;
7(ii) Upon the acceptance of an application for membership by majority vote at a general meeting of the Association, or by an appointed officer accountable to general meetings, and upon payment of the first annual or pro rata annual subscription, the applicant shall be deemed to be an ordinary member of the Association;
7(iii) Applications for membership shall not be approved if, upon referral to the Association in general meeting, it is decided by a majority vote of the members present that the admission of the applicant would be detrimental to the interests of the Association;
7(iv) The Association may create other membership categories;
7(v) A register of members, containing their names, residential addresses, telephone numbers (if available), and other contact information (if available), shall be prepared and kept up to date; this information will be accessible to elected officers of the Association, and to other persons providing that confidentiality is not breached.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
8(i) The annual subscription for membership shall be such a sum as may be determined by a two-thirds majority of the members present at an Annual General Meeting of the Association;
8(ii) The annual subscription shall be payable each year on the first day of January, or at such time as a vote by a majority of members at a general meeting shall determine;
8(iii) A majority vote of members at a general meeting may suspend, or alter the terms of, the membership of any person whose membership subscription is outstanding for more than three months after the due date for payment.
RESIGNATION
9(i) A member may resign from membership of the Association by giving written notice to the secretary of the Association;
9(ii) At the discretion of the Association, a resigning member may be reimbursed a pro rata portion of their subscription.
EXPULSION OF A MEMBER
10(i) A general meeting of the Association may expel a member if at least two thirds of the members present at that meeting vote that the member has behaved in a manner which is considered sufficiently detrimental to the interests of the Association to warrant expulsion;
10(ii) Particulars of the charges relating to a proposal to expel a member shall be communicated to that member in writing at least one calendar month prior to the meeting at which the matter will be determined;
10(iii) A member may appeal to the Association in writing or by addressing that meeting against the proposed expulsion. The intention to appeal shall be communicated in writing to the secretary of the Association within fourteen days after the proposed expulsion by the Association has been communicated to that member;
10(iv) Expulsion of a member requires a secret vote of at least two-thirds of members present at the meeting.
GENERAL AND EXTRAORDINARY MEETINGS
11(i) The Association in general meeting or extraordinary meeting may undertake any activities appropriate to the aims or objects of the association; it may appoint such officers, employees and committees as are required to carry out the objects of the Association, and may delegate any of its powers to such officers, employees and committees;
11(ii) There shall be at least eleven general meetings of the Association each year;
11(iii) Extraordinary meetings may be called by three or more appointed officers of the Association when important matters must determined by the Association before the next general meeting;
11(iv) A principal issue raised at an extraordinary meeting shall be resolved in a secret vote by a majority of at least two-thirds of the members present;
11(v) A determination made at any meeting of the Association shall be decided by a majority vote of members present at that meeting, and in the event of an equality of votes the chairman shall have a casting vote, except where a two-thirds majority vote is required;
11(vi) Each member present at a meeting of the Association shall be entitled to one vote on any motion or in any election, and to propose or second any motion or candidate for office;
11(vii) A quorum for a general meeting of the Association shall be five members present who are able and willing to vote, or alternatively four voting members present together with proxy votes on behalf of absentee members with their agreement; the mechanism of the operation of proxy voting shall be subject to regulation.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
There shall be held an Annual General Meeting at which the Association shall:
12(i) Elect a meeting chairman;
12(ii) Receive annual reports from the president and the secretary, and a financial statement from the treasurer;
12(iii) Elect a president, secretary, treasurer, public officer and minutes secretary; a person elected as public officer may simultaneously hold one of the other elected positions;
12(iv) Elect such other officers as may from time to time be determined by the association;
12(v) Appoint an auditor if necessary;
12(vi) Determine membership subscription fees for the ensuing year;
12(vii) Deal with any other business.
12(viii) The Annual General Meeting shall take place at a date no later than six months after the beginning of the calendar year.
N0TICE OF MEETINGS
13 Each member of the Association shall be given reasonable advance notice in writing (which may take electronic form) of the date, time and venue of all general meetings of the Association, and (a) at least seven days' notice of an Annual General Meeting, (b) at least three days' notice of an extraordinary meeting, by post to the address appearing in the register of members.
VALIDITY OF RESOLUTIONS
14 A declaration by the chairman of a meeting, after a count of the votes of members present, that a resolution has been carried or lost, and an entry of that declaration into the minutes of the meeting, and acceptance of the minutes by a majority of members present at the subsequent meeting, shall be sufficient evidence that such resolution was carried or lost, as the case may be.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND REGULATIONS
15(i) This constitution may be amended only by the Association in an Extraordinary or Annual General Meeting; at least two months' prior notice in writing must be given to the secretary by the named mover and seconder who have proposed the amendments, such notice clearly and definitely setting out the proposed amendment, and at least one month's written notice of the proposed amendment must be given to members before it is voted upon;
15(ii) Amendments to the constitution require a two-thirds majority vote of members at the meeting;
15(iii) Such alteration shall be registered with all appropriate bodies, including statutory bodies with whom this constitution has been registered;
15(iv) The rules of the Association shall bind the Association and every member to the same extent as if they had respectively signed and sealed them and agreed to be bound by all the provisions thereof.
THE SEAL
16(i) The Association shall have a common seal upon which its corporate name shall appear in legible characters;
16(ii) The seal shall not be used without the express authorisation of the Association in general meeting, or may be used by one or more elected officers of the Association authorised to do so by a majority of members in general meeting;
16(iii) The affixing of the seal shall be witnessed by a meeting chairman;
16(iv) The seal shall be kept in the custody of the secretary or such other person as the association shall decide.
INCORPORATION
17 The Association shall be incorporated, when a majority of members in general meeting determine, under the Associations Incorporation Act 1985, and a public officer shall be appointed by the Association in accordance with that Act.
PROPERTY
18 The income and property of the Association, however derived, shall be applied solely to promoting the objects, or to things incidental or conducive thereto, and no portion shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise of profit to any person.
DISBANDMENT
19 On dissolution of the Association, its funds, after payment of all expenses and liabilities, shall not be divided among members, but shall be paid (pursuant to the Associations Incorporation Act) to any other body having the same or similar objects to the Association, or to a university or other research body for the promotion of research into all or any objects of the Association.
FINANCIAL
20(i) The funds of the Association shall be deposited into one or more accounts in the name of the Association, with a financial institution chosen by the Association;
20(ii) Withdrawal of any monies from an account of the Association shall be by cheque or withdrawal slip signed by any of the following officers as decided by the Association: president, secretary, treasurer or meeting chairperson.
DUTIES OF THE TREASURER
The treasurer shall:
21(i) Ensure that all monies received are deposited into an account in the name of the Association, issuing receipts where necessary;
21(ii) Keep proper records of all monies received and expended on behalf of the Association (an accounts book) and of all such matters pertaining to such receipts, funds, liabilities and transactions of the Association;
21(iii) Prepare a statement of income and expenditure for each year beginning on 1 January and, if considered necessary, prepare a balance sheet as at the end of each calendar year, setting out the assets and liabilities of the Association;