ARM Media Statement - 22 September 1999

Australian of the Year and Nobel Prize winner says vote Yes at republic referendum

Republicans today welcomed the support for a Yes vote in the republic referendum by Nobel Prize winner and Australian of the Year, Professor Peter Doherty.

Professor Doherty joins a long list of great Australian achievers who are advocating a Yes vote because they believe that an Australian, instead of the Queen, should be our Head of State.

"The present system has to go," said Professor Doherty. "Queen Elizabeth represents England, not Australia. Australia merits a president who is a dedicated servant of the people, not a person who swears allegiance to a distant monarch. The November referendum is the best way to achieve this in a way that does little else to alter the current form of Government."

Professor Doherty, one of the nation's great achievers this century joins other achievers including Shane Warne, Malcolm Fraser, Gough Whitlam, Sharon Buchanan, Professor David Pennington, Tim Winton, Sir Anthony Mason, Gatjil Djeeekura, Sir Zelman Cowen, Franco Belgiornio Nettis, Stephanie Alexander, Ron Barassi, Simone Young and Hazel Hawke who are supporting a Yes vote.

The Yes campaign will launch a comprehensive list of supporters and ambassadors for the republic during the next few weeks. It will include Australians who have made a great contribution to all aspects of life in our country, and who as proud Australians, believe that our Head of State should be an Australian, and not the Queen, or her successor, Prince Charles.

They will join other Australian across the nation to campaign for a Yes vote on November 6 and by doing so, ask Australian to cast a vote of confidence in themselves.

Authorised by Malcolm Turnbull, Australian Republican Movement, 60 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000