RUDD AND THE REPUBLIC - THE DEVELOPING STORY

Republic an issue, not a priority April 03, 2008 PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd today promised that Labor would not walk away from the issue of an Australian republic, but reaffirmed it was not a priority for the government. Rudd was asked the question on whether Australia was still considering becoming a republic by a former British Labour MP after a speech he gave at the European Policy Centre in Brussels. "I have said it isn't a first ... priority, we have other challenges," Mr Rudd said. "But it remains part of our platform as a political party. "It isn't something that we can walk away from." (AAP) Rudd backs Republic before meeting Queen April 06, 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has reaffirmed his personal support for an Australian Republic a day before he is due to travel to Windsor Castle to meet the Queen. Mr Rudd, who is in London for a four-day visit, has repeatedly expressed that it's not a priority for his Labor government, which is keen to concentrate on more practical issues like the economy. He has been eager to make clear to the electorate he's no Paul Keating - his immediate Labor predecessor as prime minister who was preoccupied with "big picture" issues like a republic. But in an interview on BBC One, broadcast in Britain, Mr Rudd admitted it was something he eventually would like to see happen. "Our position as a party is clear - we are committed to an Australian republic. I am a republican and that is what we will work towards over time, but it is not a top order priority just now," he said. Last week, when pressed on the issue by a former British MP at a forum in Brussels, the prime minister pledged Labor would not walk away from the issue because it was party policy, but had failed to make clear his personal opinion. Mr Rudd wouldn't be drawn whether the issue would come to a head when the crown passed to either Prince Charles, the heir to the thrown, or Prince William, his son and second in line. "Her Majesty, the Queen, is regarded with much respect right across (the board, by) all Australians," he said. "I'm sure Australians will begin talking about this as time goes by, that's normal and natural. "But I am not going to deliver (a timeline) to you." (AAP) Nelson says Rudd right not to push republic April 07, 2008 An Australian republic may one day eventuate but Prime Minister Kevin Rudd would be "well advised" not to push the issue now, federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson says. Mr Rudd, who is in London for a four-day visit, has stated an Australian republic is not a high priority for his Labor government. He has said he wants to concentrate on more practical issues like the economy. Dr Nelson today agreed there were more important matters than the issue of becoming a republic that Mr Rudd should be focused on in his first months as prime minister. "I think that Mr Rudd would be well advised to stay away from pushing a republic," Dr Nelson told reporters in Sydney. "Australians have fundamental concerns, whether it's a drought, whether it's feeding, clothing, housing your children, keeping a small business going and making sure that the government is actually focusing on the development of the budget which is probably the most important in recent history." Dr Nelson said he supported the current constitutional arrangements. "I think the constitutional arrangements that we have in Australia have brought us an unprecedented measure of political and economic stability," he said. "I very much support the current arrangements, but Australia is a democracy and there are many Australians, many members of the Liberal Party, who would like to see Australia as a republic." (AAP) Rudd revives republic debate before meeting Queen April 08, 2008 PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has breathed fresh life into the republican debate before he was due to meet Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle. Mr Rudd emerged from talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown - his fourth meeting with Mr Brown in three days - saying he expected the republican debate would now intensify. "I expect that in the course of the year ahead, you'll see an accelerated public debate about the republic and I welcome that," Mr Rudd said in a press conference inside Mr Brown's residence at 10 Downing Street. The change of direction came as a surprise after Mr Rudd commented recently that the republic was not a first-order issue for his government. It also raised the possibility of increased tensions within the Liberals and Nationals, with most on the Right opposed to a republic. Public sentiment is likely to be more supportive. Mr Rudd remained tight-lipped about his discussions with the Queen ahead of their meeting at Windsor Castle, consistent with accepted custom and practice surrounding consultations between prime ministers and the Sovereign. The Queen, dressed in a taupe jacket and skirt and wearing an Australian wattle brooch, met Mr Rudd in the castle's White Drawing Room. Mr Rudd greeted the Queen with a "good morning Your Majesty". They spoke about how the weather had improved from the snow that had been falling a day earlier. "(The weather) is better than it was yesterday morning," the Queen said.  Mr Rudd replied: "The snow was extraordinary." Mr Rudd was wearing a dark suit and a green and gold tie. His wife was wearing a black and white polka dot dress with black shoes with polka dot bows for detail. In his earlier press conference, Mr Rudd said the republic was a well-established component of Labor policy and one which he openly supported. "Look, on the question of the republic, I'm a lifelong republican, first point; second is it's absolutely clear in the Labor Party platform that's where we intend to go," Mr Rudd said. However he said there were still other priorities for the Government, including the international and domestic economies, health policy, the response to the water crisis, climate change and education. All these were "occupying the full attention of government right now". But he acknowledged that many people wanted to have the republican debate now that one of its major impediments, the Howard government, had been removed. "We should do that. We're a democracy, and we'll be looking carefully at the way in which that debate unfolds but we have other fish to fry right now in terms of the priorities back home," he said. "But let me tell you, once a republican, always a republican. These questions are a matter of time and due process." (AAP)