For Better International Standing Australia Should Become A Republic And Exit From British Grip
Former PM speaking on 20th anniversary of failed referendum says to first decide on a model, then vote on change
Malcolm Turnbull speaking on the 20th Anniversary of a failed referendum in 1999 to quit British Monarchy has said that Australians must find a model for evolving into a republic. Once the model is decided then a future government should holds a plebiscite where voters first thrash out whether the proposed change is to a direct election like the American Presidential System or to a parliamentary type of model as followed by India.
Turnbull a former prime minister, was also the chairman of the Australian Republican Movement from 1993 to 2000. As per him the campaign to change Australia’s head of state must be fought unitedly by all its supporters. The supporters for Republic cannot fight on two fronts. The lack of unity had led to almost 55% of the voting public chose the Status Quo.
The question put in 1999 was whether voters supported changing the constitution to establish the commonwealth of Australia as a republic with the Queen and governor general being replaced by a president appointed by a two-thirds majority of the members of the parliament.
Turnbull is now of the opinion that the mistakes of 1999 could not be repeated: “What we need to have is plebiscite which sets out a direct election model and a parliamentary appointment model.”
Malcolm Turnbull campaigning for the republic in November 1999.
Turnbull said Paul Keating had thought in the 1990s that there could be a plebiscite asking whether voters supported a change to a republic, and if Australians voted yes, they would trust the parliament to determine the model. He said Keating was “an idealist”.
The reign of the current Monarch Queen Elizabeth will soon be ending. In fact the future of Britain itself as a United Kingdom is doubtful with Scotland asking for independence and Northern Ireland chaffing at the bit. Then there is Brexit also with Britain not seem to be having a much of future after the exit. So the most critical thing is the timing of the Referendum which the Australians must decide.
Labor’s republic plan described as a ‘slap in the face’ for Indigenous Australians
The Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, also spoke at the event where he spoke about the controversy regarding Prince Andrew. He stated “reminded Australia about why we need an Australian head of state” and he also spoke about the deep divisions in English society over Brexit and the possible fracture of the UK, were another reminder reinforcing the folly of Australia being “passive” and tethered to events in another country, beyond its control.
While Albanese spoke strongly in favour of becoming a republic, he said the recognition of Indigenous Australians in the constitution was the “first priority”.
And, while praising Turnbull for his leadership in 1999, he argued that the republic should be put to the Australian people first in a plebiscite asking whether voters wanted an Australian as head of state, with the details of the model to be worked out later.
The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, said the primary challenge ahead of renewing the campaign for a republic would be uniting behind a proposal. He said republicans in 1999 “were divided and conquered”.
For Australia to become a republic, a constitutional referendum would need to be held, with the majority of voters in the majority of states voting yes for change to occur. Australians are conservative about constitutional change. Of the 44 referendums held since federation, just eight have been successful.
