YES Committee Media Statement - 12 April 1999

Campaign Committee And National Campaign Director For The YES Vote

Mr Malcolm Turnbull, Chair of the Yes Committee for the referendum on the republic today announced the establishment of a small campaign committee to plan the Yes Campaign as well as the appointment of a National Campaign Director.

The committee will consist of Mr Turnbull (Chairman), Mr Peter Barron (Deputy Chairman), Mr Andrew Robb and Ms Karin Sowada.

Mr Turnbull said the Yes Committee had also approved the appointment of Mr Greg Barns as National Campaign Director responsible to the Campaign Committee.

"These appointments provide the Yes Case with an enormous depth of campaign skill and experience" Mr Turnbull, who is also Chair of the Australian Republican Movement, said.

"Coincidentally, the committee also demonstrates how widely support for the republic crosses political lines. I am confident that the team approved by the Yes Committee is a major boost for our chances of winning the referendum to be held in November of this year", Mr Turnbull said.

"Peter Barron is a former senior political adviser to both Neville Wran and Bob Hawke and has worked on the federal and state level. He will be working full time on the campaign."

"Andrew Robb is a former National Director of the Liberal Party and has worked on many Liberal campaigns including the 1996 Federal Election. He is now a Senior Executive with Consolidated Press Holdings and in his spare time he is Head of Conservatives for an Australian Head of State.

"Karin Sowada is an archaeologist who was formerly an Australian Democrat Senator for NSW. She is one of the Democrats' most experienced campaigners with a 16-year campaign history. Karin was also a delegate to the 1998 Constitutional Convention.

Greg Barns is currently Chief of Staff to John Fahey, the Federal Minister for Finance and Administration. Previously he was Senior Adviser to Ray Groom when he was Premier of Tasmania. Greg will work full time on the campaign, starting towards the end of May" Mr Turnbull said.

Authorised by Malcolm Turnbull, Yes Committee Chairman, 60 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000