The
Yes Committee Media Statement - 9 October 1999
It's
all about our future: Yes Committee launches positive
and confident advertising campaign for November 6
Yes referendum
The flagship television
advertisements for the Yes referendum campaign
were launched today and call on Australians to think
about the future, the nation's children and about
the diversity and richness of Australian life when
they vote in the republic referendum on November 6.
The Yes and No Committees were asked by the Federal
Government to develop advertising and information
campaigns to assist Australians decide how to vote
on November 6. Each received $7.5 million to develop,
research and run a four week advertising campaign.
The Yes Committee advertisements were launched today
by the chairman of the Yes Committee and chairman
of the Australian Republican Movement, Malcolm Turnbull
and Yes Committee member and Deputy Leader of the
Australian Democrats, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja.
The advertisements, which will start Sunday night,
were developed by advertising agency Singelton Ogilvy
& Mather. The advertisements ask Australians to "Vote
Yes for Australia" and show Australians from across
the vastness of the nation calling on their fellow
citizens to consider the future of their country on
November 6.
Featuring Australians in their homes, on country roads,
catching glimpses of Olympian Dawn Fraser with the
Australian flag and 101 year old Queensland World
War I veteran Ted Smout in his Brisbane home - as
well as Australians from all States and Territories,
the advertisements feature the Australian Youth Choir
singing the song "I am, You are, We are Australian"
by former Seekers member, Bruce Woodley.
The song will be of the official song of the Yes campaign.
"This
is a very positive campaign because what we are asking
Australians to do is recognise the positive things
about Australia, the great strides we have made over
the past 100 years, and the next step we need to take
to make sure that we enter the new century as a truly
independent and proud nation," said Mr Turnbull.
Senator Stott Despoja said the advertisements and
the confident and positive nature of the Yes campaign
reflected the hopes Australians have for their country
and for young Australians.
"This
campaign really does reflect and communicate the aspirations
we have to continue to carve our own place in the
world, and to say to ourselves and to the rest of
the world that 'Yes, we do believe that an Australia
is good enough to be Head of State of our own country.'"
The advertising campaign comprises a national 60 second
television commercial and two national 30 second commercials.
There are also special 30 second commercials for Tasmania,
Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia.
These have the same themes, music and feature many
of the same people as the national commercials.
The Yes advertising campaign will also feature radio
and newspaper advertising. Details of these advertisements,
which will run later in the campaign, will be made
available at a later date.
Also featuring one of Australia's bush poets, a young
football player who has just won his first grand final
game, a family from Alice Springs, Adelaide's most
famous fish and seafood vendor, Baptist Minister Tim
Costello, Young Australian of the Year Tan Le, captain
of the Socceroos Alex Tobin and Australians at work
and play, these initial advertisements will be supplemented
by others later on.
The advertisements call on Australians to consider
the major change on November 6 - to replace the Queen
with an Australian as Head of State. A web site address
is supplied for people wanting further information.
No telephone hotline numbers can be presented in the
advertisements to direct Australians to call for more
information, as the Yes Committee is not authorised
by the Government to operate such a service.
Later advertisements across print, radio and television
will also address more detailed changes proposed in
the referendum.
Authorised by Malcolm Turnbull, YES
Committee, 60 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000
