Republic back on drawing board

Report posted to news.com.au

16 November 2001

The republican debate will be revived next month at the so-called birthplace of Federation, the NSW town of Corowa.

The People's Conference, Corowa 2001, will attempt to capitalise on the town's famous standing as the venue for the 1893 meeting, where the motion for a federated constitution for Australia was raised and adopted.

On December 1 and 2, up to 450 delegates from all walks of life will debate 19 models for an Australian republic.

A range of noted thinkers, media and public identities met in Melbourne this week to discuss and debate the merits and make-up of the conference.

Chairing the meeting, scientist and former Australian of the year Sir Gustav Nossal said he hoped the conference would provide the best constitutional process for a republic.

"Without the Corowa convention in 1893, there may not have been a federation," he said.

Those at this week's meeting included former Victorian governor Richard McGarvie, television personality Rob Sitch, former ALP frontbencher Barry Jones - who will chair the conference - and David Pitchford, chief executive of Century of Federation Victoria, which is organising the event.

On July 31, 1893, parliamentary delegates from the Australian colonies converged on Corowa to discuss the nation's federation. The next day, Bendigo MP Dr John Quick asked permission to present an unplanned motion calling for federation, which was accepted with little debate.

The now-famous motion read: "In the opinion of this conference, the legislature of each Australasian colony ought to pass an Act providing for the election of representatives to attend a statutory convention or congress to consider and adopt a Bill to establish a federal constitution for Australasia, and that upon the adoption of such a measure, it be submitted
to referendum."