That Federal Council undertake a comprehensive constitutional review process that ensures members, Branches and State Councils are fully informed and meaningfully consulted prior to the adoption of any revised Constitution, including:
1. providing clear explanatory material outlining the purpose, legal necessity and practical effect of proposed constitutional changes, together with a comparison between the current and proposed Constitution;
2. providing opportunities for member consultation over an appropriate period, including face-to-face and online engagement, and considering feedback prior to presenting a revised Constitution for adoption;
3. establishing an appropriate mechanism, such as a Constitutional Review Working Group, with representation from State Councils and members with relevant governance expertise, to assist in reviewing proposed constitutional reforms; Review group, through a nomination process, should consist also of past federal presidents and/or life members.
4. providing members with information regarding the legal, governance, financial and operational implications of the proposed reforms, including implementation costs, ongoing obligations and anticipated impacts on Branches, State Councils and volunteers;
5. providing members with a financial breakdown of the past 2 years' worth of professional service costs directly related to the creation of the recently proposed constitution and going forward, for constitution associated costs to be defined in their own right and not joined with media service costs;
6. outlining the rationale, anticipated benefits and implications of pursuing Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status; and
7. ensuring future By-laws and substantive amendments are communicated to members and presented for ratification at the next appropriate general meeting.
ICPA members support strong governance and recognise the need for constitutional review where appropriate. However, proposed constitutional reforms represent significant changes to the governance of the Association and should be accompanied by a transparent, well-communicated and consultative process. This motion seeks to ensure members have sufficient information and opportunity to understand, contribute to and support any future constitutional reforms. Good governance transparency is of the utmost importance to our membership-based organisation, which has been built upon by generations of people coming together from vast distances to enable the strength of rural communities to be heard.
WA state council also wishes to acknowledge the immense work already undertaken by ICPA volunteers across Australia and into the future the work that will be undertaken by volunteers at the time and place we are in now and those into the future that will need to work with a future constitution should one be adopted by the association members.
