The Yes Committee Media Statement - 9 October 1999

It's all about our future: Yes Committee launches positive and confident advertising campaign for November 6 Yes referendum

The flagship television advertisements for the Yes referendum campaign were launched today and call on Australians to think about the future, the nation's children and about the diversity and richness of Australian life when they vote in the republic referendum on November 6.

The Yes and No Committees were asked by the Federal Government to develop advertising and information campaigns to assist Australians decide how to vote on November 6. Each received $7.5 million to develop, research and run a four week advertising campaign.

The Yes Committee advertisements were launched today by the chairman of the Yes Committee and chairman of the Australian Republican Movement, Malcolm Turnbull and Yes Committee member and Deputy Leader of the Australian Democrats, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja.

The advertisements, which will start Sunday night, were developed by advertising agency Singelton Ogilvy & Mather. The advertisements ask Australians to "Vote Yes for Australia" and show Australians from across the vastness of the nation calling on their fellow citizens to consider the future of their country on November 6.

Featuring Australians in their homes, on country roads, catching glimpses of Olympian Dawn Fraser with the Australian flag and 101 year old Queensland World War I veteran Ted Smout in his Brisbane home - as well as Australians from all States and Territories, the advertisements feature the Australian Youth Choir singing the song "I am, You are, We are Australian" by former Seekers member, Bruce Woodley.

The song will be of the official song of the Yes campaign.

"This is a very positive campaign because what we are asking Australians to do is recognise the positive things about Australia, the great strides we have made over the past 100 years, and the next step we need to take to make sure that we enter the new century as a truly independent and proud nation," said Mr Turnbull.

Senator Stott Despoja said the advertisements and the confident and positive nature of the Yes campaign reflected the hopes Australians have for their country and for young Australians.

"This campaign really does reflect and communicate the aspirations we have to continue to carve our own place in the world, and to say to ourselves and to the rest of the world that 'Yes, we do believe that an Australia is good enough to be Head of State of our own country.'"

The advertising campaign comprises a national 60 second television commercial and two national 30 second commercials. There are also special 30 second commercials for Tasmania, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia. These have the same themes, music and feature many of the same people as the national commercials.

The Yes advertising campaign will also feature radio and newspaper advertising. Details of these advertisements, which will run later in the campaign, will be made available at a later date.

Also featuring one of Australia's bush poets, a young football player who has just won his first grand final game, a family from Alice Springs, Adelaide's most famous fish and seafood vendor, Baptist Minister Tim Costello, Young Australian of the Year Tan Le, captain of the Socceroos Alex Tobin and Australians at work and play, these initial advertisements will be supplemented by others later on.

The advertisements call on Australians to consider the major change on November 6 - to replace the Queen with an Australian as Head of State. A web site address is supplied for people wanting further information.

No telephone hotline numbers can be presented in the advertisements to direct Australians to call for more information, as the Yes Committee is not authorised by the Government to operate such a service.

Later advertisements across print, radio and television will also address more detailed changes proposed in the referendum.

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