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NZ, Australia 'should consider merger'
Australia and New Zealand should consider becoming one country, a bi-partisan Government committee has recommended.
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs considered the possibility of harmonising Australia and New Zealand's legal systems.
It found the two countries had a uniquely close relationship stemming from New Zealand being one of seven colonies of Australasia prior to federation in 1901.
"While Australia and New Zealand are of course two sovereign nations, it seems to the committee that the strong ties between the two countries - the economic, cultural, migration, defence, governmental and people-to-people linkages - suggest that an even closer relationship, including the possibility of union, is both desirable and realistic," it found.
The committee recommended the Australian parliament invite the New Zealand parliament to establish a committee to work towards harmonisation of the legal systems.
"The committee is of the view therefore that Australia and New Zealand would benefit from collaboration at the parliamentary level to ensure ongoing harmonisation of their legal systems and to investigate future options for mutually beneficial activity, including the possibility of union."
"The committee is also mindful that the harmonisation of laws is very much the art of the possible. Thus the merger of Australia and New Zealand or the progression to a unitary system of government in Australia, however desirable, might not be easy to achieve."
Australia and New Zealand should also consider introducing a common currency, and allowing one parliament to voluntarily cede responsibility for drafting particular legislation to the other.
The inquiry also considered laws within Australia and found a number of specific laws that varied between states and should be made consistent.
The committee identified a number of "quite absurd" situations resulting from the lack of legal harmonisation, including that power of attorney granted in NSW would not be valid in the ACT.
Also, legal requirements for employers to provide first-aid kits specify different bandage widths in each state.
It found a referendum to change the constitution may be needed for the Federal Government to harmonise legislation.
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i cant say for sure, but i would imagine that this sounds as stupid to the kiwis as a us-canada merger sounds to us canadians.
