29 March 1999

Andrew Robb, convener of Conservatives for an Australian Head of State, today announced that the Right Hon Doug Anthony, former Deputy Prime Minister and former leader of the National Party; Don McGauchie, former President of the National Farmers Federation; and Rod McGeoch, CEO of the Sydney Olympic Games Bid, have joined the call on the conservative side of politics for a YES vote in November's referendum. Read Andrew Robb's address to the National Press Club today.

10 March 1999

The draft Constitutional Amendment Bill has been released for public comment! You can view the Constitutional Alteration (Establishment of Republic) Bill 1999 at the Government's Republic Referendum web site. The ARM is generally pleased with the Bill as it largely follows the recommendations of the Constitutional Convention. The ARM will provide a written submission to the Government on some of the fine detail of the Bill. Submissions must be received by the Government no later than 16 April 1999.

The Government also announced yesterday that each referendum question in November (the republic and preamble referendums) will be on its own ballot paper. This is intended to reduce potential confusion amongst voters if both questions were on the one ballot. The question on the ballot paper for the republic question is likely to be based on the long title of the Constitutional Amendment bill, which in draft form is An Act to alter the Constitution to establish the Commonwealth of Australia as a republic with a President chosen by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Commonwealth Parliament.