ARM Media Statement - 18 February 1999

South Australians to the fore in Republican Referendum

South Australia will be a key state in the YES campaign in November's referendum on whether Australia will become a republic, two of Australia's most senior republicans said today.

The Chair of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM) Malcolm Turnbull and the ARM's National Campaign Director the Hon Neville Wran were in Adelaide today to speak to a broad range of community representatives and leaders to discuss strategies to maximise the YES vote in South Australia.

"South Australia has a proud history", said Mr Turnbull "of constitutional law reform and in leading the way for other Australians in creating a more dynamic and more vibrant society".

"Republicans across the nation are confident that South Australians will again rise to occasion in November when Australians will vote on whether they want a foreigner, who is the Head of State of another country, to continue to be our constitutional umpire, or whether they want an Australian chosen by Australians as our Head of State" said Mr Turnbull.

Mr Turnbull said now that the referendum question on the republic had been decided by the Federal Government it will be far easier for Australians to begin to consider their position on what essentially will be a vote of confidence in Australia.

"South Australia boasts a very rich and diverse community, many members of which, would far prefer an Australian, one of us, as their first citizen, and find little empathy in an absentee Head of State who will never know what it is like to live in Australia or even be an Australian citizen" said Mr Turnbull.

While in Adelaide, Mr Turnbull and Mr Wran met with the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Jane Lomax-Smith, the Premier, Mr Olsen and the Opposition Leader, Mr Rann, leading business people and South Australians who will be playing a key role in the referendum campaign in the State.

Coalitions of organisations and individuals advocating a YES vote in November are being established across the nation and Mr Turnbull said it would not be too long before such a group was well established in South Australia.

A recent opinion poll indicated that more than 70% of Australians want an Australian as their Head of State and about 60% will vote YES in November's referendum.

"This by no means guarantees us success in November and we will be relying on South Australians to help us get over the line" Mr Turnbull said.

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