ARM Media Statement - 24 September 1999

AFL Yes republic Saturday in Melbourne and throughout Asia

Australians attending tomorrow's AFL grand final as well as troops in East Timor and across South East Asia will be encouraged to vote YES when they gather to see whether North Melbourne or Carlton will win the flag tomorrow afternoon.

Australian defence personnel in East Timor will be able to watch the grand final via Australia Television, and in the ad breaks, the Australian Republican Movement has booked vote YES advertisements.

The AFL grand final is also one of the most watched program on Australia Television in Asia, where up to 65,000 Australians will be voting because they are either living or working away from Australia on voting day

Defence men and women are eligible to vote at the November 6 referendum, and their votes will be as important as any others across Australia to vote YES, to replace the Queen as Head of State with an Australian who lives among us, and knows the pride of being an Australian and of living in Australia.

Closer to home, keen republicans will be handing out Vote YES postcards to fans on their arrival at the grand final. They ask footy fans whether they think the Queen is a Carlton Blue Blood or a Kangaroo Shinboner, or whether most likely, as a foreign and absentee Head of State, she has no interest at all in the great Aussie game.

The clear message is that we should have as our Head of State an Australian who understands our love of Aussie Rules and who knows the joys of being an Australian and living in Australia.

As well as activity at the grand final, leading YES republic campaigner Steve Vizard will be guest speaker at the North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast tomorrow morning where he will urge Australians to vote YES. Another leading republican, Treasurer Peter Costello, and the nation's leading monarchist, Prime Minister John Howard, will also attend the breakfast.

News Ltd chief executive, Lachlan Murdoch, who last week praised the Treasurer for his republican stance and who pointed to the unique opportunity Australia has on November 6 to take the next step as a truly independent nation, will also be attending.

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