ARM MEDIA RELEASE - 7 October 2004

Candidates surveyed on republic

The Chair of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM), Professor John Warhurst, today expressed satisfaction with the encouraging response to the ARM's Federal Candidates Survey.

"The ARM initiated a survey of federal candidates last month to ascertain candidates views on whether Australia should become a republic with an Australian Head of State, and to determine their support for a second republican referendum by 2010 or earlier.

Having approached 976 candidates nationwide, the ARM is pleased with the 325 responses received thus far. Professor Warhurst stated that "The responses have been very encouraging. The vast majority of respondents - more than 80% - have been very supportive on both questions, confirming that an Australian republic remains an issue candidates are interested in and committed to."

Guided by party leaders Mark Latham, Andrew Bartlett and Bob Brown, candidates from the ALP, Democrats and Greens - those parties with explicit polices supporting an Australian republic - have affirmed their personal commitment to both an Australian republic and another referendum by 2010 in large numbers.

Prominent Liberal republicans including Joe Hockey, Trish Worth and Marise Payne, along with former ARM Chair Malcolm Turnbull and head of the '99 coalition Conservatives for an Australian Head of State, Andrew Robb - both hoping to be elected to the Federal Parliament for the first time this election - have also responded favourably to the survey.

Responses from candidates are being posted on the ARM website at www.republic.org.au so that Australian voters can check which of their local candidates support the view that Australia should become a republic with its own Head of State.

The ARM has maintained its strictly neutral and non-partisan approach during the election campaign, and is anticipating developments in the republican campaign in the next term of parliament.

"Our candidates survey has demonstrated that support for an Australian republic spreads across the political spectrum. Regardless of the result on Saturday, the ARM is looking forward to the issue of an Australian Head of State being addressed after the election, either by a republican Latham Labor Government or by a Howard Coalition government containing a great number of republican supporters," said Professor Warhurst.