ARM MEDIA RELEASE - 11 December 2003

Senate Inquiry gives people a say

The Chair of the Australian Republican Movement, Professor John Warhurst, today welcomed the release of an issues paper to stimulate discussion for the forthcoming Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee’s Inquiry into an Australian Republic.

Professor Warhurst stated that the Inquiry, which is seeking the views of the Australian community on the most appropriate process for moving towards the establishment of an Australian and alternative models for an Australian republic, accorded with the ARM’s view that such decisions ought to be taken by the Australian people.

Professor Warhurst said that the ARM was looking forward to contributing to the Inquiry, both through its submission and at public hearings to be held around Australia in 2004.

The ARM’s submission will focus on the ARM’s preferred process for building an Australian Republic.

“We recommend letting the people decide through a three plebiscite process: one plebiscite on the threshold question of whether Australia should become a republic, a second asking Australians their preferred model and a third asking Australians to choose the title of the Head of State. An elected Convention would then draft the model, according to the plebiscite results, to be put to the Australian people in a referendum,” Professor Warhurst said.

Professor Warhurst said that the timing of the plebiscites should be left to the parliamentary process. “There is no reason why the first plebiscite on the threshold question should not be held soon after the next federal election.

“Whether or not the plebiscites are held together or separately depends on the judgement of the Commonwealth Parliament. What matters is that the community should be given adequate time for a full community discussion and, where necessary, appropriate public education.”

Professor Warhurst said that the ARM did not advocate one republican model over the others. “The ARM in October 2001 released a discussion paper on six constitutionally safe republican models. Our position remains that it is for the Australian people to decide what kind of republic Australia should have, as determined through a plebiscite and referendum process.”

Further information regarding the Inquiry is available on the Senate Committee’s website at http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/republic03/index.htm

Two ARM discussion papers relevant to the Senate Inquiry: Process: what do you think? and Six Models for an Australian Republic are available on the ARM website at www.republic.org.au