We
want a republic - but what's the best way to get there
from here?
Since the defeat of the 1999 referendum the process
to a republic has stalled and it's difficult to see
the way forward. We know where we want to end up, but
we need a roadmap to get there. Most of us would agree
that the Australian people must be consulted more closely
than they were during the last referendum period. But
what questions should be asked… and at what stage?
In 2003 the ARM's Constitutional Issues Committee set
about consulting with the ARM membership - and the wider
Australian community - to determine our preferred process
to resolve the Head of State issue responsibly, openly
and democratically.
An information sheet containing points for and against
various options was drafted and put to the membership.
The
Process - What do You Think? (Word Format)
The
Process - What do You Think? (PDF Format)
Three different processes were put up for discussion;
all of them proposing a different combination of plebiscites,
an elected convention and of course a referendum at
the end of the process.
In October 2003, after close consultation with ARM branch
councils, forums and members, the CIC produced a consultation
report, outlining the feedback the Committee had received.
Consultation report
(Word Format)
Consultation report
(PDF Format)
Taking this on board, the ARM's National Committee met
in Melbourne in October 2003 to recommend a preferred
process towards an Australian republic. After reviewing
the discussion paper and responses to the consultation
process, the National Committee agreed unanimously on
the following resolution:
The ARM supports plebiscites on the threshold
question and on republican models (held separately or
together), followed by a Convention to draft the model,
followed by a referendum.
The ARM also supports a third plebiscite question (to
be held concurrently with the threshold and / or models
plebiscites) allowing Australians an opportunity to
choose the Head of State's title (President, Governor-General,
Head of State).
National Committee Statement
on the Process (Word Format)
National Committee Statement
on the Process (PDF Format)
The ARM's preferred process towards an Australian republic
provided the basis for the ARM's submission to the 2004
Senate
Inquiry into an Australian Republic on
the question of process.
