The current royal tour provides an opportunity for Australians to consider the implications of the recent referendum campaign and future constitutional development, something that the Queen herself has acknowledged.

Many of those who support the republican cause saw great historical symmetry in achieving an Australian Republic by the centenary of Federation next year. However, as is the case with most human endeavours, they don’t conform to the neatness of mathematics and Australia will enter its centenary and the new millennium with essentially the same system of government established in 1901.

For us today, the eventual achievement of Federation would seem inevitable. There has been no shortage of analogies drawn between the campaign for Federation and the current one for a Republic: the timeframe; suspicion between states and between city and rural areas; accusations of it being for the benefit of politicians and other elites; the numerous conventions, the referenda and most importantly the eventual success.

And so it will be with the Republic, for although the Nov 6 referendum was lost, the majority of Australians know that we will become a Republic and want it to be so. But in order to achieve this we need to acknowledge some of the lessons of the recent campaign and the result. The first is the confirmation that constitutional change in Australia is a difficult endeavour, particularly when a Prime Minister opposes change and controls the manner and timing of the necessary processes. The next time the issue comes before the people it is most likely that, irrespective of which party is in government, both Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition will be republicans.

The second is that the general level of understanding of the constitution and political processes is low, this enabled the No Campaign to conduct an effective but scurrilously negative campaign that not only defeated the Yes proposition but fundamentally undermined the political process and civic life in Australia.

The ARM’s proposal for change to occur in an appropriate timeframe to allow adequate discussion, consultation and confirmatory steps will ensure that consensus for change is built upon the sound public knowledge of the implications and alternatives.

The final point concerns the ARM itself in terms of its own strategy and organisation. The ARM has committed itself to a process whereby the next step in the path to a republic is to have a non-binding plebiscite whereby Australians can unequivocally indicate their preference for a republican form of government.

Our research throughout the campaign demonstrated that many Australians felt they were being rushed into answering two questions: do we want a republic? And what sort of republic? Already the naysayers are rejecting this proposition; so much for their democratic credentials. Isn’t it obvious that the first question is whether we want to have a republic at all?

After the successful plebiscite they will either have to join in the debate or fade away to irrelevance. The subsequent step is the most important, and one that monarchists fear most as it involves engaging with the all Australians in discussing and developing alternative republican models. This engagement will be mutually important for both the general public and organisations like the ARM to build knowledge, consensus and confidence that should underwrite any constitutional change.When this has been achieved, perhaps by way of another plebiscite to choose a model, then a referendum can be presented to the electorate that will be acceptable to the majority of Australians.

The other aspect concerns changes to the ARM’s own structure and processes. The ARM is in the process of developing a new constitution that will increase participation and allow the necessary internal debates to occur and guide the organisation. Consultation on this new constitution is occurring both within the ARM and with other republicans to ensure that the ARM extends its appeal and utility beyond those who campaigned for the model earlier supported by the ARM.

Judging by the number of new members joining, many of them direct electionists, its clear the ARM will remain at the forefront of the process to achieve an Australian republic. So to all Australians interested in changing our system of government and having an Australian head of state that lives here and is our, and only our, head of state every day of the year, I say join with us for, as the Queen herself said on Monday, the issue of constitutional change and the future of the monarchy in Australia is one for “Australians and Australians alone to decide”. Those who think that the result of November 6 last year was the end of the matter should take note, for you have nothing to fear except democracy itself.

This article first appeared in The Australian on 23 March, 2000.