The Yes Committee Media Statement - 13 October 1999

Bryan Brown TV ads reject direct election as US-style razzamataz

The Yes Committee for the Republic Referendum will tonight begin running television advertisements nationally featuring Australian actor and republican Bryan Brown explaining to Australians why he does not want a directly elected President, and advocating a Yes vote on November 6.

This is the first of a series of issues-based advertisements which deal with both the detail of what is proposed on November 6 and reasons to vote Yes. It follows the launch on Sunday of the Yes Committee's flagship television commercials urging people to Vote Yes for Australia. Other advertisements will be released progressively over the next few weeks.

The script for the Bryan Brown advertisements appears below.

Music Chorus:

I am, you are, we are Australian.

Voice-over:

Why Bryan Brown is voting , yes, for a Republic.

Bryan Brown:

I don't want a directly elected President for our Republic. That would make our Government like America's. We've already got a great system of Government, that works. I'm proud of my heritage but the Queen is no longer relevant to us. It's time to move forward. Have an Australian as our Head of State. That's why I'll be voting, yes, on November 6.

Voice-over:

Vote yes for Australia.

Music Chorus:

"We are Australian"

Authorisation:

Authorised by G Craven, Perth, for the Yes Committee. Spoken by D. Callan, B. Brown, "I am Australian" Sung by the Australian Youth Choir.

Authorised by Malcolm Turnbull, YES Committee, 60 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000