7 November 1999

Australia will not become a republic on the centenary of Federation, 1 January 2001. Nine years of campaigning for an Australian Head of State has come to an end - for the time being - with a majority of Australians (of around 55 per cent) voting to keep the Constitutional Monarchy in the republic referendum. This is a disappointing result for so many Australians who have worked so hard for this goal. The republican flame will stay alive but unfortunately it may be many, many years before this issue can be revisited.

This will be the last update to the ARM web site until after the ARM board meeting in February or March next year. Many in the ARM have devoted up to the past nine years of their lives for this cause, working day and night. Many also feel it will now be up to others to advance the debate from here. The ARM would like to thank all its members, supporters and all those Australians who voted YES for your vision of a better country and optimism about our future as a republic. Our time will come.

5 November 1999

Republicans were buoyed by a late surge to the YES vote today, as both sides declared a result in NSW too close to call.

A vote for the republic would be good for business and Australia's international standing, the founder of one of the country's most successful international companies said.

Steve Waugh was voting YES, but Shane Warne bowled a mystery ball on what he was casting his ballot for.

Right royal YES. Elizabeth R from the House of Windsor will vote YES in tomorrow's republic referendum.

Twenty-four hours before Australia's historic referendum to sever the last constitutional ties with British royalty, republicans are pinning their hopes on advertising an embarrassing image to win voters to the republic.

Former prime minister Malcolm Fraser yesterday pleaded for Australians to "step into the future" and vote for the republic.

A report that Prince Charles, the future king of Australia under a constitutional monarchy, has promised to promote British beef abroad has provided the republican cause with a last-minute referendum weapon.

4 November 1999

Majority don't want Queen. The republic referendum is poised to preserve a head of state unwanted by the vast majority of Australians, a Herald Sun Newspoll has found.

A Television commercial featuring US President Bill Clinton proposing a toast to the Queen of Australia was launched by republicans yesterday in a final bid to snare the Yes vote at Saturday's referendum.

The spiritual leader of Victoria's Catholics has urged the nation to vote YES on Saturday.

The historic republic referendum is poised to preserve a head of state unwanted by the vast majority of Australians.

A former senior diplomat yesterday warned a No vote could make Australia an international laughing stock, particularly in Asia.

Famed art critic and republican Robert Hughes tonight urged Australians to take the enormous chance before them and vote YES for a republic.

A judge of the NSW Court of Appeal yesterday delivered a swingeing attack on the referendum tactics of the monarchists including the Prime Minister, accusing them of trampling on Australia's democracy to get their way.

3 November 1999

Australia would suffer a "loss of self-respect" if it rejected a republic, News Corporation chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch has told The Australian in an exclusive interview.

Conservative support for a republic has jumped with the intervention of the Treasurer and heir apparent to the prime ministership, Peter Costello, while Labor support still struggles.

Kim Beazley hit the campaign trail in Western Australia yesterday in a final appeal to Labor's traditional blue-collar constituents to put all fears behind them and vote yes.

2 November 1999

The 'yes' campaign for the republic has held its final rally with Gough Whitlam and his old political opponent Doug Anthony sharing the stage.

Saturday's referendum will be the only chance most Australians ever have to support the nation becoming a republic, Premier Jim Bacon warned yesterday.

Britons are generally in favour of Australia cutting its ties with the monarchy and becoming a republic, according to a newspaper opinion poll published yesterday.

1 November 1999

A YES vote at Saturday's referendum would be a natural step to modernise the Constitution, as well as allowing an Australian to become head of state for the first time, former prime minister Bob Hawke said yesterday.

Federal Treasurer Peter Costello has raised the stakes in the final week of the republic campaign, signalling that the Government would drop the issue for good if the no vote wins on Saturday.

Robert De Castella, Marathon champion: "For me, the republic is important for a number of reasons: philosophically, symbolically and culturally."