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Last updated on March 6th, 2018 at 12:30 am
A Bulletin exclusive – the government’s relocation plans in the event of a terror strike or nuclear attack:
Government and intelligence sources have told The Bulletin that Cabinet’s National Security Subcommittee, headed by Prime Minister John Howard, approved broad elements of the government post-doomsday blueprint in mid-2004 after a formative American model was put into action following al Qaeda’s September 11 strikes on Washington and New York.
- Bet you it is Queanbeyan…Posted by Quentin George on 02/17 at 03:28 AM • permalink
- A good idea! Smart move, John Howard. Continuity of government (termed “continuity of operations” for lower levels of government, or “business continuity plans”) is essential. In fact, there has been COG/COOP plans in place for the US Government for decades, mostly for nuclear war scenarios (recently expanded to “all hazards”).
Meeting the requirements of the Australian Constitution in the COG will take some time, but the right questions are being asked. Similar questions were asked about the US Constitution after the 9/11 attacks.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 02/17 at 03:48 AM • permalink
- We already know where it is Mr George – Gary Nairn’s electorate.Posted by Salim_Ahmed on 02/17 at 04:07 AM • permalink
- We already know where it is Mr George – Gary Nairn’s electorate.
Hence the Queanbeyan reference.
Posted by Quentin George on 02/17 at 05:15 AM • permalink
- Functioning without an Opposition?
Eeeexcellent, Smithers!
Lately the opposition seems to have misread its role in life. They are supposed to be pro-Australia, not working every day in every way to undermine our interests. If the ALP cannot work out how to look different from the government without appearing subversive and a danger to our way of life, they should give the game away.
- pardon my ignorance, but in the australian parliamentary system what is the order of succession? i.e., if the pm is toasted how many ‘next in line’ folks are pre-established?Posted by Mr. Bingley on 02/17 at 09:08 AM • permalink
- Mr. Bingley
We are a Constitutional Monarchy. The office of Prime Minister is not mentioned in the Australian Constitution. The Australian Federal succession system actually applies at Governor level. If the Governor General dies, the most senior (longest serving) State governor takes over.
Formally, the GG (as the local representative of the Australian sovereign, whom we share with the United Kingdom) gives the Royal Assent to legislation on the advice of his Ministers, and those Ministers are elected by the Parliament. The Prime Ministerial role is a construct of the Party system and is really nothing more than a management convenience. As an individual, the PM has no more legislated power in the Parliament than any other Parliamentarian (ie 1 vote). In reality, he is the representative of the governing Parliamentary majority and so has considerable political power.
- ah, thanks Paul 🙂Posted by Mr. Bingley on 02/17 at 01:44 PM • permalink
- Mr Bingley, Paul,
the reality is that we do have a Deputy Prime Minister – John Anderson, leader of the National Party, the junior party in the governing coalition. He’s next in line until the Liberal Party, the senior party in the governing coalition, elect a new leader.
The Liberals themselves have a deputy leader (nominally second in line), as well as a leader (nominally third in line) and deputy leader (nominally fourth in line) in the Senate.
- Therefore, technically the line of succession goes:
John Howard
John Anderson
Peter Costellobut if Howard keeled over tomorrow, it’d be Costello who’d eventually take over.
Posted by Quentin George on 02/18 at 01:32 AM • permalink
- steve68,
What you are saying is correct but irrelevant. As the role of PM does not figure in the Constitution, whoever succeeds the PM is equally Constitutionally irrelevant. It is the Parliament which sends legislation to the Governor General for approval, not the PM. Parliament could continue to send legislation to the GG whether or not there was a PM, as the majority group would remain the majority group. Any succession arrangements for party leaders (ie the PM, Opposition Leader, Chief Fairy etc) are determined by the political parties, not the Constitution.
- Tom, did they build the new parliment house in the shape of a pyramid? 😀Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 02/18 at 06:10 AM • permalink
