Democrats – Renewed Call for a Republic

MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 18 August, 2010
Renewed Call for a Republic
The Australian Democrats are again calling for a referendum to decide whether
Australians are ready for a Republic.
In 1999 the Howard Government put a referendum to the voters for republic in which
an Australian Head of State would be hand-picked by the Prime Minister and approved by a
2/3rds majority of Parliament. The failure of the referendum was arguably a rejection of
the model of appointment of a head of state by politicians rather than any definitive
rejection of a republic.
The Democrats were the first political party to have an official pro-republic position
and we initiated the Senate inquiry into the steps and processes needed for Australia to
become a truly independent nation.
Australia’s Constitution has hardly changed in the last century. However, High
Court decisions, broader interpretations of Federal powers in areas like communications,
industrial relations, family law and social welfare, together with numerous intergovernmental
agreements and attitudinal change mean it is out of date.
The Australian Democrats have a simple referendum question for a Republic. If the
answer is ‘yes’ then there would be a process of change to a Republic put into action.
1. A public awareness campaign as a first, crucial step in engaging the public
2. A simple, first plebiscite asking the Australian people:
Do you want Australia to become a republic? YES or NO
The vote would be non binding and conditional upon the public being ‐ consulted about
different forms of republic models
1. Consistent with the principle of popular sovereignty, a fully elected constitutional
convention would then be held to develop models of a republic
2. The models would be put to a second plebiscite
3. A referendum would then be conducted to change the Constitution offering a choice
between the form of republic preferred by the second plebiscite or remaining a
constitutional monarchy
Authorised by J. Rose for The Australian Democrats – Tasmanian Division – 77 Lawrence Vale Rd, South Launceston, Tasmania 7249.
Contact: Paulene Hutton – m: 0409 311 524, e:paulene_tyf@hotmail.com
Tim Neal – m: 0413 535 502, e: meandmy33@hotmail.com