19 October 2001

ARM Releases 'Six Models for an Australian Republic'
Discussion Paper

The Australian Republican Movement today released the Six Models for an Australian Republic discussion paper to its members, seeking their comment and input.

The Chair of the ARM, Mr Greg Barns said "the release of this discussion paper is a crucial step in the process of reinvigorating and refocusing the campaign for Australia to become a republic with an Australian as Head of State."

A further version of the paper reflecting member input will be debated at an ARM conference, early 2002. The conference will decide the final form of the paper for wider public release.

Susan Ryan, ARM Deputy Chair, said "The paper and the resulting discussion will inform and reassure Australians about the range of republican possibilities. Before holding the next referendum. ARM supports of a plebiscite asking Australians a direct question, whether they want a republic. Our Models paper, and the extensive discussion it will promote will demolish the 'blank cheque' scare campaign likely to be mounted by those opposed to an Australian Republic."

The paper was prepared by the ARM's Constitutional Sub-Committee chaired by Malcolm Turnbull. Other members were: Richard Fidler, Rod Kendall Anne Witheford and Dorothy McRae-McMahon.

Mr Turnbull said "The paper is not designed to advocate one model over another. It fleshes out six alternatives and demonstrates how they would work, commenting on the different implications and consequences arising from each of them. This constitutional six pack includes several different direct election models and provides the detailed constitutional drafting that they would require. The paper should form the basis of a more informed discussion on the alternatives."

Dorothy McRae-McMahon commented that: "the ARM committee which brought these models together, with its diverse membership, is itself an indicator of the ARM's openness to genuine negotiation about the sort of republic we want."

Richard Fidler, ARM Deputy Chair emphasised the introduction to the paper which states that it is intended to: "…stimulate an ongoing public discussion and comments are welcome. The ARM does not advocate one model over the others, nor does it suggest that this list is exhaustive of republican models. There are of course many ways of choosing an Australian president. An informed, lively community debate, conducted in a spirit of compromise will be the best way of devising a republic that sits easily within our democratic traditions."

The paper will be available at http://www.republic.org.au/6models and submissions will be able to be emailed to 6models@republic.org.au

A summary of the models is attached.

Comment:
Greg Barns, Chair: 0419 691846
Jim Terrie National Director: 02 9267 8022 / 0411 240 970

Six Models Introduced

The six models are:

1. Prime Minister Appoints. This is an ultra-minimalist version, where the Prime Minister appoints the President in precisely the same way as he appoints the Governor-General.

2. People Nominate, Parliament Appoints. This is essentially the model proposed in 1999 but with a refinement of the means of removing the President. This would require the President's removal to be effected by a vote of the House of Representatives. The 1999 model is also refined to make the work of the Nominations Committee more open. The Prime Minister would be required to accept a nominee from the Committee's shortlist.

3. Presidential Assembly Appoints. In this model the people at every second federal election would elect a Presidential Assembly. It would have 48 members, 6 of whom would be the six State Governors and 42 would be popularly elected. It would have the specific responsibility of choosing a President as and when a vacancy occurred and would call for nominations from the public.

4. People Elect the President. In this open direct election model there are no limitations on who may stand as President (beyond nomination requirements designed to ensure there are not an unwieldy number of candidates) and with the reserve powers codified along the lines set out in the Republic Advisory Committee Report of 1993.

5. People Elect from Parliament's List. In this qualified direct election model, candidates for the Presidency are directly nominated by the people and seven of those nominated are selected by a two thirds majority of a joint sitting of both Houses of the Federal Parliament followed by popular election. The reserve powers would be codified as for model 4.

6. Executive Presidency. This is direct election model with a President who is also the Head of Government. This could be termed a "US style model" but is really provided simply as an example. It is the only model, which involves far reaching change and would constitute an abandonment of the Westminster system of responsible government in favour of the American republican system of clearly differentiated branches of Government.