ARM Media Statement - 3 November 1999

Head of the Commonwealth says Australia's membership of the Commonwealth absolutely in no doubt - Monarchist lie exposed for once and for all

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anaouku, issued a statement overnight ruling out categorically that Australia's membership of the Commonwealth will be affected if the nation votes Yes to become a republic on Saturday. In his statement, Chief Anaouku says:

"Let me make it absolutely clear that, whatever the outcome of the referendum, there is no question of Australia's membership of the Commonwealth being in doubt."

Chief Anaouku's statement proves once and for all that chief monarchists Kerry Jones, Tony Abbott and Professor David Flint have been lying about this issue, and have involved themselves in a campaign of deliberate scaremongering.

The monarchists have been maintaining that Australia's membership of the Commonwealth is under cloud if we vote Yes, and that we will not be allowed to compete in the Commonwealth Games. They should now own up to their deliberate lie. They should also apologise to the Australian people for this lie.

They should also apologise for lying to Australians by claiming that a No vote on Saturday will not shut down the republic issue for generations, and stop holding out false hope of a direct election referendum after Saturday.

There will not be another referendum if the No vote wins on Saturday. This has been confirmed by the Prime Minister, the Treasurer Peter Costello and the Opposition Leader Kim Beazley.

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