ARM
Media Statement - 18 February 1999
South
Australians to the fore in Republican Referendum
South Australia will be a key
state in the YES campaign in November's referendum
on whether Australia will become a republic, two of
Australia's most senior republicans said today.
The Chair of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM)
Malcolm Turnbull and the ARM's National Campaign Director
the Hon Neville Wran were in Adelaide today to speak
to a broad range of community representatives and
leaders to discuss strategies to maximise the YES
vote in South Australia.
"South
Australia has a proud history", said Mr Turnbull "of
constitutional law reform and in leading the way for
other Australians in creating a more dynamic and more
vibrant society".
"Republicans
across the nation are confident that South Australians
will again rise to occasion in November when Australians
will vote on whether they want a foreigner, who is
the Head of State of another country, to continue
to be our constitutional umpire, or whether they want
an Australian chosen by Australians as our Head of
State" said Mr Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull said now that the referendum question
on the republic had been decided by the Federal Government
it will be far easier for Australians to begin to
consider their position on what essentially will be
a vote of confidence in Australia.
"South
Australia boasts a very rich and diverse community,
many members of which, would far prefer an Australian,
one of us, as their first citizen, and find little
empathy in an absentee Head of State who will never
know what it is like to live in Australia or even
be an Australian citizen" said Mr Turnbull.
While in Adelaide, Mr Turnbull and Mr Wran met with
the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Jane Lomax-Smith, the
Premier, Mr Olsen and the Opposition Leader, Mr Rann,
leading business people and South Australians who
will be playing a key role in the referendum campaign
in the State.
Coalitions of organisations and individuals advocating
a YES vote in November are being established across
the nation and Mr Turnbull said it would not be too
long before such a group was well established in South
Australia.
A recent opinion poll indicated that more than 70%
of Australians want an Australian as their Head of
State and about 60% will vote YES in November's referendum.
"This
by no means guarantees us success in November and
we will be relying on South Australians to help us
get over the line" Mr Turnbull said.
Authorised by Malcolm Turnbull, Australian
Republican Movement, 60 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000
