Disaffected republicans back new plan

By Mike Steketee, National affairs editor
The Australian, 15 June 2001

REPUBLICANS who campaigned against the 1999 referendum model yesterday welcomed the willingness of the Australian Republican Movement to consider direct election of the president.

But monarchists criticised attempts to revive the republic debate, saying 80 per cent of Australians did not want to revisit the issue.
The ARM will issue a discussion paper shortly canvassing a wide range of options, including popular election.

Former federal Independent MP and Real Republic representative Phil Cleary said he would hold talks soon with ARM chairman Greg Barns to see how far the organisation was prepared to go towards supporting a direct-election republican model.

"They are acknowledging at least that the model has to be inclusive and the last one was exclusive,'' he said.

"Tony Abbott can put his head on the pillow and dream of the Queen if he likes, but his political career will be truncated. If the Liberals can be pragmatic about Telstra, they will be pragmatic about this.''

Australians for Constitutional Monarchy executive director Kerry Jones said that after spending millions of dollars of taxpayers' money on promoting their idea, republicans were refusing to take no for an answer.

"They should ask Australians whether they want more money and time spent on the issue: our research shows that 80 per cent would say no.''

Labor's proposed plebiscite asking voters whether they wanted a republic would be meaningless and create enormous conflict, Ms Jones said. "It would be totally irresponsible to claim a mandate on the basis of such a question.

"It's like asking 'Do you want a brand-new car?' without saying what model, whether the engine works or whether it is better than the one we have got now. Everyone would say yes.''

ACM held a lunch in Sydney to celebrate the Queen's birthday and welcome incoming Governor-General Peter Hollingworth, although he did not attend.