ARM MEDIA RELEASE - 15 September 2004

Fresh republican team on board

The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) today announced its 2004-2006 leadership team.

ARM Chair, Professor John Warhurst, welcomed three newly elected members to the ARM's National Committee: Australian Democrats Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja, former broadcaster Bill Peach and 21 year old Queenslander Dylan Smith, noting that "they each bring a long history of republican activism to the team."

"Senator Stott Despoja has been a strong advocate of the republican cause in her parliamentary role, most recently with the Senate Inquiry into an Australian Republic. She is a long-term member of the ARM and has served on the National Committee in the past. We're delighted to have her back on board." said Professor Warhurst.

"Bill Peach is well known to many Australians from his time as an ABC journalist and presenter. Bill also has a long republican pedigree, most recently as the Convenor of the Corowa Committee, which was formed at the People's Conference at Corowa in 2001."

"Dylan Smith is one of the ARM's 2004 Republican Ambassadors, and has been elected as the ARM's new National Youth Convenor."

Following on from his success in topping the poll in the ARM's membership elections, John Warhurst, Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University in Canberra, has been endorsed by the National Committee to continue as the ARM's Chair, a role he has filled for the past two years.

Anne Henderson, Deputy Director of the Sydney Institute, will continue as Deputy Chair of the ARM while Ted O'Brien takes over the second Deputy Chair position from Jason Li, who recently stood down from the ARM's National Committee and executive.

Professor Warhurst welcomed Ted O'Brien to the executive and said that his experience at all levels of the organisation, in particular his role as chair of the ARM's strategy group, will be valued. Mr O'Brien said that he was looking forward to playing his part in communicating the vision of an Australian republic to the broader community

Professor Warhurst also thanked and paid tribute to Mr Li's commitment and contribution to the ARM, stating, "Following his pivotal role in the 1998 Constitutional Convention, Jason has been a key figure in revitalising and shaping ARM's appeal in the 5 years since the 1999 referendum."