ARM MEDIA RELEASE - 29 July 2004

ARM welcomes Senate Inquiry to Canberra

The Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee will today be conducting its final public hearing in its Inquiry into an Australian Republic. The Canberra hearing will be held in Committee Room 2R1 in Parliament House between 9am and 1pm.

The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) has welcomed the Inquiry, which it considers to be the most important initiative since the 1999 referendum in moving Australia towards a republic. The ARM's national Chair, Professor John Warhurst, stated that "The ARM has been impressed by the vast number of submissions put forward to the Inquiry, demonstrating that the issue of an Australian republic remains an important issue for many Australians."

Professor Warhurst commended the Committee on the nation-wide community consultation it has undertaken into its terms of reference, noting that "The public hearings around the country have unearthed some very constructive proposals for moving towards an Australian republic and we look forward to the Committee's report, due on 10 August."

The ARM also welcomed the multi-partisan nature of the Committee. Professor Warhurst stressed that a republic would only eventuate with cooperation among all of Australia's political leaders.

Representatives of the ARM appeared before the Inquiry in Sydney in April, after submitting a sizable and considered contribution to the Inquiry. The submission focuses on the ARM's preferred process for building an Australian Republic, involving three plebiscites and an elected Convention. The first plebiscite focuses on whether Australia should become a republic, the second asks Australians their preferred model and a third asks Australians to choose the title of the Head of State. A fully elected Convention would then draft the model, according to the plebiscite results, to be put to the Australian people in a referendum.

Professor Warhurst highlighted that the process reflects the ARM's belief that the Australian people must choose what type of republican model is put to the next referendum. "It is an inclusive approach that allows the Australian people to decide what kind of republic they want."

The ARM submission canvasses five possible republican models but does not advocate one model over others. Professor Warhurst stated that "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."