The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) Chair, Prof. John Warhurst, and National Director, Ms Allison Henry, today released a statement marking the five year anniversary of the 6 November 1999 republican referendum.

Professor Warhurst stated that it was time that the Government revisited the issue of an Australian republic.

“Constitutional reform should not be allowed to wither. It has now been five years since the last referendum and polls indicate that support for an Australian republic remains strong. There is no excuse for the government to not move on a second referendum on the grounds that it is too soon. The time is now right.”

The ARM welcomed the recent the multi-partisan Senate Report on an Australian Republic, The Road to a Republic, and called for the federal government to initiate one of the report’s key recommendations, the establishment of a new Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Constitutional Education and Awareness.

“Australians still remain greatly under informed about constitutional matters,” stated Professor Warhurst. “We encourage the government, and indeed all federal parliamentarians, to support this initiative, and address the generally poor level of constitutional awareness and understanding within the community. This initiative can positively contribute to a more informed and inclusive debate on the republican issue.”

The ARM remained confident that the political agenda would return to the republican issue. Ms Henry said that “Not only is there continuing community support for an Australian republic, we are also encouraged by the growing parliamentary support for an Australian Head of State. The Coalition includes a growing number of republican supporters – now joined by new MPs such as former ARM Chair Malcolm Turnbull and convenor of Conservatives for an Australian Head of State, Andrew Robb – while the Labor Party, Greens and Democrats all have polices endorsing an Australian republic.”

“The republican debate is not about to go away,” said Professor Warhurst. “Australians are continually reminded about their outdated and increasingly irrelevant constitutional system and it is time that the issue was revisited in a second referendum.”

Ms Henry said that the ARM would continue to campaign for an Australian Head of State, noting that the ARM will be hosting the second National Republican Lecture in Canberra next Tuesday.