ARM Media Statement - 27 January 1999

Neville Wran calls on Jeff Kennett to add value to Head of State debate

A senior director of the Australian Republican Movement, Neville Wran, said today's call by Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett for a change in leadership of the Australian Republican Movement was unnecessary and detracted from the debate on an Australian as Head of State.

"Mr Kennett's comments were unfortunate. They ignore the work that the Australian Republican Movement and especially Malcolm Turnbull have done in securing broad community support for an Australian Head of State," said Mr, Wran.

"An Australian Head of State has more support today than at any time in the past. Since the Constitutional Convention last year, and especially during the past few weeks, Mr. Turnbull and senior figures in the ARM have been consulting and coordinating with many groups and organizations to broaden support for an Australian Republic.

"This cooperation has been the main way that we have been able to grow support for an Australian Head of State. It has been slow and necessary work, and could not have succeeded if we adopted a crash or crash through approach.

"The issue at stake in the November referendum is not whether Malcolm Turnbull, myself or any republican is more popular than monarchists such as Kerry Jones or Tony Abbott.

"Its is about whether Australians want to cast a vote of confidence in their nation by deciding that among our 18 million people, one of us is good enough to be our Head of State."

Mr. Wran said personalities should be kept out of the debate on whether Australia should become a republic.

"This is about a great national issue. Surely, as Australians we can do better than resorting to indulgent personal attack as part of the debate. The task at had is to get on with the job and for all of us, whatever our view, to treat each other with respect and stick to the argument instead of playing the man."

Mr. Wran said Mr Kennett is an important figure in pro-republic side of the debate and appealed to him to explain to the nation why it is illogical that Australia still has a foreigner as our Head of State.

Authorised by Malcolm Turnbull, Australian Republican Movement, 60 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000