ARM Media Statement - 9 September 1999

Monarchists employ more dirty tricks in increasingly loopy No republic campaign

First there were claims of ethnic cleansing and that Australia will turn into a Hitler-led State if we become a republic. Followed by silly charges that the flag will change if we vote Yes.

And now, in the latest instalment, the monarchists are advertising and promoting a monarchist event featuring republican speakers - speakers who never accepted invitations to attend - so that they can then accuse republicans of running away from the debate.

"The monarchists are hoping to use the old 'the speaker's chairs are empty because they do not want to debate us' trick at one of their events at Sydney University on Saturday September 18," said Australian Republican Movement communications director, Wayne Burns.

"We can only but imagine what the next trick will be in their armory of undergraduate tactics - perhaps surreptitiously making unpleasant noises near republicans and then, while running away, holding their noses and pointing at us accusingly?"

The Standing Committee of Convocation event billed as a "seminar" is promoted as featuring speakers including Australian Republican Movement members Neville Wran, Karin Sowada, Malcolm Turnbull and Wendy Machin.

This is despite the speakers not agreeing to participate, and despite the Monarchist League organiser, Stewart Hespe, being told they would not be involved.

"We decided not to be involved when we found out the organiser was chairman of the NSW Monarchist's League, and that senior members of the Committee for Convocation at the University of Sydney, purportedly organising the event, knew nothing about it," said Mr Burns.

"Despite our emphatic statements that we will not be involved in such a clearly one-sided monarchist event dressed up as a seminar, the Monarchist League decided to promote our participation anyway in the hope of unfairly scoring a cheap debating point.

"They are hoping they can make an issue about us not being there. Rather than be embarrassed about not enjoying the company of Mr Hespe and Tony Abbott, we would be embarrassed if we were not out in neighbourhoods, shopping centres and at community markets that weekend - which we will be - talking to Australians about why we should replace the Queen with an Australian as Head of State."

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