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Research Paper No. 25 1998-99

From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum: A Guide to the Processes, the Issues and the Participants ISSN 1328-7478

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Published by the Department ofthe Parliamentary Library, 1999 INFORMATION AND RESEARCH SERVICES

, Research Paper No. 25 1998-99

From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum: A Guide to the Processes, the Issues and the Participants

Professor John Warhurst Consultant, Politics and Public Administration Group , 29 June 1999 Acknowledgments

This is to acknowledge the considerable help that I was given in producing this paper. I would particularly like to thank all my colleagues in the Politics and Public Administration Group andthe other Information and Research Services colleagues who attended the workshop on 28 April. And lowe special thanks to Diane Hynes without whose administrative assistance this production would never have seen the light of day.

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IRS Publications Office Telephone: (02) 6277 2760 Contents

Major Issues , .i Introduction 1 Processes 1 Issues 2 Participants 4 Debating the Republic ,.. 5 Chronology 5 Purpose ofthe Constitutional Convention 8 Outcomes ofthe Constitutional Convention 9 The Bipartisan Appointment ofthe President ModeL 11 The Referendum Process 12 Public Opinion 13 Major Participants in The Debate 15 Issues for Resolution during 1999 16 The Timing ofthe Referendum 16 The Referendum Questions 16 The Public Education Programme 17 The YES and NO Media Campaigns 18 The Presidential Nominations Committee 18 Implications for the States 18 Conclusion 18 , Endnotes 19 Appendix 1: Delegates to the 1998 Constitutional Convention 23 Appendix 2: Summary ofConstitutional Referendums 29 Appendix 3: Opinion Polls on an Australian Republic 3I Appendix 4: Poll Data 33 Appendix 5: Governments and Political Parties 35 Appendix 6: YES Community Organisations 41 Appendix 7: NO Community Organisations 45 Appendix 8: The YES and NO Campaign Organisations 49 Appendix 9: Educational Organisations 51 Appendix 10: Some Additional Public Figures 53 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

Major Issues

This paper provides the background necessary for an understanding of the context of the republic referendum to be held on 6 November 1999. Its purpose is not to critically examine the contending arguments being put by monarchists and republicans, as this has been done already by the participants and others, but rather to provide a guide to the processes, issues and participants. In particular, the paper sketches:

• the contemporary evolution ofthe monarchy-republic debate

• the pattern ofpublic opinion

• the emergence ofthe key community organisations

• the Constitutional Convention in February 1998

• the referendum process

• the positions adopted by the political parties

• the positions adopted by Commonwealth and state government leaders

• the way in which political institutions, such as the executive and the parliament, are processing the issue, and

• the likely dynamics and shape ofevents over the final six months before the referendum.

The aim ofthe paper is to enable those interested in the referendum to follow the debate as it unfolds by identifYing the roles and positions ofthe key actors. Contact addresses ofthe major players and suggestions for further reading are included for this purpose. Cross­ references are given to a wide range of complementary papers and notes produced by Information and Research Services. From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

Introduction

This paper aims to be a guide to the participants, issues and processes in the debate leading up to the constitutional referendum to decide whether will become a republic. While there is some discussion ofthe debate about the preamble this paper is not meant to be a guide to that issue.

It concentrates particularly on the years 1998-1999, especially from the February 1998 Constitutional Convention (CC) to April 1999, in the lead-up to the November 1999 referendum. But to put these years in their proper context and to explain the emergence of the key organisations and individual personalities, the account of the whole decade must be told.

The referendum has focused the debate. It will be conducted according to well-worn constitutional provisions, which are spelled out in the Constitution and elaborated in legislation for the conduct of referenda. But it also has its own unusual characteristics. These include the pre-eminent role played by community organisations in a formally non­ partisan referendum. Furthermore, the referendum is being put by a prime minister who is personally opposed to the change, but who has declared that he will play no active part in the campaign.

Processes

Australian debate about republicanism became serious, if the measure is some prospect of constitutional change, in the . The decade has seen a transformation of the debate though the emergence oforganised groups in the community, changing attitudes within the political parties and a generalised concern with constitutional reform as the centenary of federation approaches on I January 2001.

The key events have been those that have brought closer the likelihood of a govemment putting before the parliament a bill to have the issue considered by people at a constitutional referendum held under section 128 of the constitution. They have included:

• the appointment ofthe Republic Advisory Committee by the Keating Labor Government in May 1993

1 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

• the address by the Prime Minister, , to the Parliament on 7 June 1995 in which he set a timetable ofa republic by 2001

• the campaign promise by the victorious parties at the March 1996 federal elections to call a people's convention to address the issue

• the holding of the Constitutional Convention at Old Parliament House in in February 1998

• the recommendations by the Constitutional Convention that a republican model be put to the people at a referendum towards the end of1999, and

• the mechanisms and processes being put in place during 1999 by the .

Issues

The general debate about the competing virtues ofmonarchy and republic has been shaped by the events of the 1990s. The focus has been the adoption of the so-called 'minimalist' model by Paul Keating's Labor government and the Australian Republican Movement (ARM) and its reincarnation, with amendments, as the Bipartisan Parliamentary Appointment of the President model as the preferred model of the Constitutional Convention.

By the time ofthe elections for the Constitutional Convention the organised opponents of change, Australians for Constitutional Monarchy (ACM), were campaigning behind the slogan 'No Republic'. The elements oftheir campaign are:

• the existing constitution has served Australia well and is not 'broke'

• no substantial arguments have been put forward for radical constitutional change

• there are no discernible benefits

• the move to a republic might destabilise the political system

• the preferred republican model has particular weaknesses, such as the unrestricted ability ofthe Prime Minister to dismiss the President, and

• there is no hurry for change even ifthe republic is inevitable in the long term.

The elections for the Constitutional Convention brought into the open the different strands in a republican movement dominated until that stage by the 'minimalist' Australian Republican Movement. These other republicans almost always wanted more expansive

2 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

change. They held caucus meetings during the convention to organise opposition to a president elected by Parliament. After the convention a majority ofthese delegates, led by Ted Mack, Phil Cleary and Clem Jones formed the Real Republicans. Other direct election republicans, including Reverend Tim Costello, chose to join the YES campaign.

These 'direct election' or 'popular election' republicans argue that the minimalist model is too narrowly conceived. They argue that direct election ofthe president is:

• an expression of'real' republicanism, meaning citizen sovereignty

• a democratic step because public opinion polls suggest that it is what the majority of Australians want, and

• a step towards opening up and reshaping the whole Australian political system.

They argue, furthermore, that, by contrast, parliamentary election ofthe president is:

• a very conservative and unacceptably limited change, and

• an outcome favoured by the existing political party establishment because it leaves control ofthe presidency in their hands.

The mainstream proponents of the YES case advocate the middle position. They are driven by the central nationalist argument that:

• the present constitutional monarchy, whereby the British monarch is also the Australian Head of State, is unacceptable because the Australian Head of State ought be an Australian citizen.

They argue, furthermore, that:

• the hereditary nature ofthe monarchy is undemocratic, not allowing appointment bymerit and excluding in this case women and those who are not Anglicans, and

• the minimalist change will effectively not change anything other than replacing the Govemor-General with the President.

This emphasis on the conservative nature ofthe proposed change appeals particularly to an organisation that emerged early in 1999, Conservatives for an Australian Head ofState. It is especially critical ofthe proposals for direct election ofthe president, which they see as potentially destabilising. They advocate that conservative Australians should support the YES case not only on its merits but also because, should it be defeated, the alternative is likely be more radical change.

3 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

Participants

There are three categories ofparticipants actively involved in the republic debate:

• governments and political parties

• cornmunity organisations and individuals advocating YES or NO, and

• politically neutral organisations engaged in political education and analysis.

The is formally committed to a republic as is the . The Liberal Party and the National Party are each committed to the status quo. The Prime Minister has made it clear that party discipline will not apply to this issue within the Liberal Party and that, while he remains a monarchist, republicans within the party are free to vote and campaign according to their conscience. The National Party has remained solidly monarchist and none of its current parliamentarians have publicly supported a republic.

The main republican community organisation is the non-partisan ARM. There are also nascent organisations called the YES Coalition in most states and territories composed of ARM members and other prominent citizens, including some direct election republicans advocating a YES vote. Standing to one side is another organisation, Conservatives for an Australian Read ofState (CARS).

The main monarchist organisation is ACM. There are also other community organisations, such as the Australian Monarchist League (AML). At the elections for the Constitutional Convention there were some successful monarchist electoral organisations, such as Safeguard the People and Constitutional Monarchists. By 1999 ACM, like its opposite number ARM in the case of republicans, appears to have become the spokesperson for monarchists.

The direct election republicans opposed to the preferred republican model have only recently begun to organise. Their main organisation is Real Republicans.

Since 1991 the Constitutional Centenary Foundation, funded by the Commonwealth and state governments, has pursued public education on constitutional reform matters.

The YES and NO advocates in the political parties and the community organisations have been brought together in the official committees for the advertising for the referendum for the republic. The YES committee has ARM, CARS, Labor, Liberal and Democrat representatives, while the NO committee has ACM, National and Liberal representatives as well as two direct election republicans. So the referendum campaign will be a three­ sided campaign about a two-sided question.

4 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

Debating the Republic

Australians have long discussed the idea of replacing the constitutional monarchy with a republican constitution, even during the 19th century before federation in 1901. This discussion has continued during the 20th century. But republicans have been in a minority and the issue has always been peripheral to the main political debate.!

From the onwards, public debate quickened and well-known public identities, such as Geoffrey Dutton, Donald Home and Max Harris, declared themselves to be republicans.2 But none of the major political parties were committed to the republic and republicans remained in the clear minority according to public opinion polls. The 1975 constitutional crisis drew attention to Australia's constitutional arrangements and over the years that followed the Australian Labor Party edged towards declaring itself for the republic. This it eventually did in 1982.3 It was in this context that there was considerable criticism ofthe appointment ofthe former Labor leader, as Governor-General in 1989. He was presumed to be a republican.

The 1990s is the decade in which the republican debate has flourished, generated by community action and reaction.4 In April 1991 a Constitutional Centenary Conference was held in , convened by leading legal figures. From this meeting the Constitutional Centenary Foundation was created. On 7 July 1991 the Australian Republican Movement, the first major republican organisation, was launched by author, Tom Keneally. In tum this led to similar organisational efforts to defend the status quo and, less than a year later, on 4 June 1992, ACM held their first public meeting.

Chronology

3-5 April 1991 Constitutional Centenary Conference, Sydney 7 July 1991 Australian Republican Movement launched, Sydney 4 June 1992 Australians for Constitutional Monarchy first public meeting, Sydney 28 April 1993 Republic Advisory Committee established 5 October 1993 Republic Advisory Committee reports 7 June 1995 Paul Keating commits his government to a republic by 2001 8 June 1995 proposes a People's Convention 26 March 1997 Constitution Convention (Election) Bill second reading 3 November-9 December 1997 Voting for Elected Delegates to Constitutional Convention 29-30 January 1998 Women's Constitutional Convention, Canberra 2-13 February 1998 Constitutional Convention meets in Canberra 19 February1999 YES and NO campaign tearns announced 9 March 1999 Release of Exposure Drafts of the Constitutional Alteration (Establishment ofRepublic) Bill 1999 and ofthe Presidential Nominations Committee Bill 1999

5 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

Some state premiers had also entered the debate on both sides and became important figures in the debate. Of greatest political significance was the emergence of a pro­ republic Liberal State premier, , in NSW. Greiner served to make republicanism a bipartisan issue.

Paul Keating replaced as Labor Prime Minister in December 1991 and immediately began to advance issues of national identity. On 24 February 1993, in his policy speech just before the March 1993 federal elections, Keating announced his intention to form 'a committee of eminent Australians to develop a discussion paper that would consider the options for an Australian republic'. 5 This committee, the Republic Advisory Committee (RAC) was established on 28 April 1993. The chair was of the ARM. The other members included Greiner; Mary Kostakidis, SBS TV presenter and CCF member; Lois O'Donoghue, chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission; Susan Ryan, former Labor Senator and Minister for Education; George Winterton, Professor of Law at the University of ; Dr Glyn Davis of the School of Politics and Public Policy at , who was the nominee of the Premier; and Namoi Dougall, a solicitor, who was the nominee of the NSW Premier (each State premier had been asked to put forward names for consideration).6

The RAC reported on 5 October 1993 and concluded that a republic was achievable. It was 'both legally and practically possible to amend the Constitution to achieve a republic without making changes which will in any way detract from the fundamental constitutional principles on which our system of government is based,. 7 The cornmitted itself to this position and, on 7 June 1995, Keating gave a televised address to parliament in which he reiterated this view and set a timetable of a republic by 2001.8 By now public opinion surveys (see below) suggested that a majority ofAustralians joined the ALP in supporting in principle the move to a republic, as did the Australian Democrats. So it had thus become an issue of some urgency for the Coalition parties to address.

The early 1990s saw a quickening ofthe debate and a number ofbooks were published, by academics and activists, examining the constitutional and political issues. 9 Most ofthese authors wrote in favour ofthe move to a republic.

Earlier, in November 1994, the then Leader of the Opposition, , had suggested the idea of a people's convention to discuss the issue, a procedure advocated by the Constitutional Centenary Foundation. This first step later enabled the subsequent Opposition Leader, John Howard, to put forward a more detailed proposal along these lines in response to Paul Keating's June 1995 initiative.

When the Coalition parties won the March 1996 federal elections this proposal was part of its campaign promises but the republic did not playa major part in its campaign. At the time the Labor Government countered with a proposal for an indicative plebiscite (a non-

6 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

binding vote) that would test sUPPo0rt for a republic in principle before proceeding to a referendum on a particular model. 0

The Howard government proceeded to implement its proposal and from that time onwards the debate narrowed. The Constitutional Convention (Election) Bill 1997 received its second reading on 26 March 1997. The bill was held up in the Senate for some time because it proposed that the 76 elected delegates would be elected by voluntary postal ballot rather than by in-person compulsory voting. Eventually the bill passed through the Senate and planning for the election proceeded.II

On 12 September the date of the election was announced. Voting papers were mailed out in the period 3-14 November and the polling closed on 9 December. The results were notified on 24 December.

Elections were held in each state and territory for a total of 76 delegates. The distribution of seats was: New South Wales (20); (16); Queensland (13); (9); (8); Tasmania (6); Australian Capital Territory (2); and Northern Territory (2). A Senate- voting method was used. The turnout was 46.93 per cent of eligible voters. Under the circumstances this was quite a respectable turnout. But it did leave open the question of whether this was a representative sample and just what the views ofthe remaining 53 per cent would be at any subsequent referendum.

There were 609 candidates including 80 groups and 176 non-aligned individuals. 12 The two largest groups, ARM and ACM, polled the lion's share of the votes and won the bulk of the elected positions. ARM polled 30.34 per cent and ACM polled 22.51 per centY Republican candidates led the count in NSW, Victoria, WA, ACT and NT, while monarchists won in Queensland, SA and Tasmania.14 The successful candidates are listed in Appendix 1.

The Prime Minister appointed the other 76 delegates: 40 parliamentary and 36 non­ parliamentary.ls The parliamentary delegates were divided between Commonwealth and state representatives. The Commonwealth representatives included both all the party leaders and some backbenchers. The state representatives included the State premiers and opposition leaders and the chief ministers of the ACT and the Northern Territory. The non-parliamentary delegates included seven youth delegates, some indigenous leaders such as Lowitja O'Donoghue and Gatjil Djerkurra (past and present chairs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission), prominent women such as Professor Judith Sloan, Julie (now MHR), Dame , Helen Lynch, and Dame Roma Mitchell; church leaders such as Anglican Archbishop and Catholic Archbishop ; and other prominent Australian men, including Professor , Major-General William 'Digger' James, Bill Hayden, Professor Greg Craven, Sir Arvi Parbo, Peter Sams and Lloyd Waddy. The Prime Minister also appointed two senior parliamentarians: Ian Sinclair (National Party) and Barry Jones (ALP) as Chair and Deputy Chair ofthe Convention. The full list ofappointed delegates is also given in Appendix 1.

7 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

The Constitutional Convention met at Old Parliament House in Canberra for ten working days, 2-13 February 1998. The convention was televised and it attracted considerable and favourable attention from both the media and the public who were able to watch the proceedings from the visitors' galleries. 16

Just before the Constitutional Convention a Women's Constitutional Convention (WCe) was held in Canberra on 29-30 January 1998. The WCC was convened by representatives of Australian Women Lawyers, Constitutional Centenary Foundation, National Women's Justice Coalition, Women's Electoral Lobby, Women into Politics and YWCA Australia. WCC aimed to 'ensure that the debate concerning the potential shift to a republic is not one-sided but includes the interests ofwomen'.17

It was a successful event, attended by 300 delegates, including a number who would be attending the Constitutional Convention itself. While it added to the momentum for a republic it did not support a particular modeL However a majority of delegates indicated their wish to go beyond a minimalist republic. It was reported that a majority 'endorsed a republic that recognised and accepted , enshrined gender equity in the political process, promoted social cohesion, political stability and a democratic culture, and included a bill ofrights'. IS

Purpose of the Constitutional Convention

The convention had a narrowly defmed purpose. It was asked by the Prime Minister to consider three questions:

• first, whether or not Australia should become a republic

• secondly which republic model should be put to the voters to consider against the current system ofgovernment, and

• thirdly, in what time frame and under what circumstances might any change be considered.

In his opening address to the Convention, John Howard promised delegates that:

if clear support for a particular republican model emerged from the Convention, my government would, if returned at the next election, put that model to the Australian people in a referendum before the end of 1999. 19

Then, ifthe referendum was successful, Howard promised the convention that the republic would be put in place for I January 2001 which would be the Centenary ofFederation and the birth ofthe new millennium.

8 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

Outcomes of the Constitutional Convention

Ofthe Prime Minister's three questions:

• the Constitutional Convention supported, in principle, the idea that Australia should become a republic. This resolution was carried by 89 votes to 52 with 11 abstentions

• the Convention supported the Bipartisan Appointment ofthe President Model by 73 votes in favourto 57 against with 22 abstentions. While this was less than an absolute majority it was declared carried by the chair and a motion of dissent in the chair's ruling was overwhelmingly defeated, and

• the Convention voted to recommend to the Prime Minister and Parliament that this model be put to a referendum by 133 votes to 17 with two abstentions. It recommended that the referendum be held in 1999 and that ifsuccessful the republic should come into effect by 1 January 2001.

The Convention also discussed the implications for the states.20 It resolved

That the Commonwealth Govemment and parliament extend an invitation to State Governments and Parliaments to consider:

• the implications for their respective Constitutions ofany proposal that Australia become a republic; and

• the consequences to the Federation ifone or more States should decline to accept republican status.

In any case it resolved that State autonomy not be infringed.

In choosing the Bipartisan Appointment ofthe President Model the Convention preferred it to three other models. The first, moved by the WA Opposition Leader Dr Geoffrey Gallop, was the Direct Election Model, involving:

the election ofthe head of state by the Australian people following a two-stage process 2I for identifying candidates. ••• 'not less than three candidates would be selected from the nominees by a special majority ofa joint sitting ofthe House ofRepresentatives and the Senate'.

The second, moved by the former Governor-General Bill Hayden, was another direct election model. It involved 'nomination of candidates for the election by way of petition endorsed by at least one percent ofvoters'.22

The third, moved by the former Victorian Governor, Richard McGarvie and hence known as the McGarvie Model, involved the least change from the present system. Under this model the head of state would be appointed by a new, three person Constitutional Council

9 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

whose only role would be to ratify the Prime Minister's selection. Any citizen could put a name forward to the Prime Minister.

The choice of model was carried out by exhaustive ballot. The Hayden Model received only four votes and was eliminated in the first round. Then the Direct Election Model was narrowly eliminated in the second round after receiving 30 votes.

Finally, the Bipartisan Appointment Model prevailed in the final round with 73 votes to 32 votes for the McGarvie Model, 43 for no model and three abstentions.

The second major issue considered was whether the Constitution should include a new preamble, while allowing for the existing preamble to remain intact.

The Convention recommended that there should be a new preamble including the following elements:

• introductory language in the form 'We the people ofAustralia'

• reference to 'Almighty God'

• references to the origins ofthe Constitution and acknowledgment that the Commonwealth has evolved into an independent, democratic and sovereign nation under the Crown

• recognition of our federal system of representative democracy and responsible government

• affirmation ofthe rule oflaw

• acknowledgment of the original occupancy and custodianship of Australia by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

• recognition ofAustralia's cultural diversity

• affirmation ofrespect for our unique land and the environment

• reference to the people of Australia having agreed to reconstitute our system of government as a republic, and

• concluding language to the effect that '[we the people of Australia] asserting our sovereignty, commit ourselves to this constitution'.

It also agreed that some other matters might be considered for inclusion in the Constitution. These included the following:

• affirmation ofthe equality ofall people before the law

10 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

• recognition ofgender equality, and

• recognition that Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders have continuing rights by virtue oftheir status as Australia's indigenous peoples.

It was resolved that the preamble should not be used to interpret the other provisions ofthe Constitution and that this stipulation should be written into chapter three of the Constitution which deals with the judicatureP

Finally, the Convention recommended a continuing process of constitutional review. It resolved:

that, ifa republican system ofgovemment should be introduced by referendum, at a date being not less than three years or more than five years thereafter the Commonwealth Govemment should convene a further Constitutional Convention?4

The first item on the agenda of such a convention, for which two-thirds of the delegates would be directly elected by the people, would be to review the operation of the new system of government. It would also be able to address many other matter related to the new arrangements, including ways to better involve people in the political process.

The Bipartisan Appointment of the President Model

The Convention recommended that the Prime Minister should present to a Joint Sitting of the Parliament a 'single nomination for the office ofPresident, seconded by the Leader of the Opposition,.25 The nomination would need the approval/support of a two-thirds majority.

In presenting a single name the Prime Minister would take into account the report of a committee established by Parliament to consider nominations.

This committee should be:

of a workable size, its composition should have a balance between parliamentary (including representatives of all parties with party status in the Commonwealth Parliament) and community membership and take into account so far as practicable considerations offederalism, gender, age and cultural diversity?6

Nominations should be invited from as wide a range of individuals and organisations as possible so as 'to ensure that the Australian people are consulted as thoroughly as possible,.27 Consultation shall involve the whole community, including 'State and Territory Parliaments; local government; community organisations, and individual members of the public,.28

11 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

The Committee should compile a short-list of candidates for consideration by the Prime Minister, being mindful in doing so of 'community diversity'. No nomination should be made public without the consent of the nominee. The qualification for office is that the person be an Australian citizen qualified to be a member ofthe House of Representatives under s 44 ofthe Constitution.

The term of office is five years. The President can be dismissed 'at any time by a notice in writing signed by the Prime Minister,.29 This action would have to be approved within 30 days by the House of Representatives. If it was not approved this would constitute a vote ofno confidence in the Prime Minister.

The powers of the President would be 'the same as those currently exercised by the Govemor-General,.30 To achieve this the Convention recommended that Parliament:

• spell out as far as practicable the powers that are exercised on the advice of ministers (known as non-reserve powers), and

• issue a statement that 'the reserve powers and the conventions relating to their exercise continue to exist'.

The Referendum Process31

In his introduction to the report of the Constitutional Convention the Chairman, the Rt Hon. Ian Sinclair, noted that the outcomes of the convention, including the recommendation that the Republic question be put to the people at a referendum, 'should be assessed against the history of rejection of constitutional change,.32 He further noted that 'only eight ofthe 42 propositions submitted by referendum have been approved'. The details ofall the constitutional referendums held so far are to be found in Appendix 2.

This means that it is difficult to achieve constitutional change by constitutional referendums. Various reasons are advanced for these unpromising results ranging from the conservatism of the Australian people in resisting positive changes to the perspicacity of the Australian people in resisting 'grabs for power' by the central goverrnnent. However it should be noted that the Australian record might not be too conservative at all when it is compared with attempts to change constitutional arrangements in other comparable countries, such as Canada.33 Constitutional change is rarely easy to achieve because in all countries it involves the most major changes possible and is, therefore, conducted 34 according to stringent rules.

There is, however, general agreement that any significant party political opposition to a referendum proposal will spell its defeat. This was the case on the occasion of the most recent referendums, in 1988, when four proposals were so overwhelmingly defeated (no proposal achieved even 40 per cent support) that the future of constitutional change by

12 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

referendum appeared to be bleak.35 Consequently, one strategy has been to attempt to 'depoliticise constitutional change' in an attempt to 'build constitutional change on effective consensus'.36 In the past this non-partisan consensus-building has been undertaken by constitutional committees and commissions, most recently by the Constitutional Commission in the . On this occasion the Constitutional Convention served this purpose.

The formal process of alteration ofthe constitution by referendum is set out in section 128 of the Constitution. It is a two-stage process: initiation by the parliament and ratification by the people. First, the proposed bill must be passed by both houses of the Commonwealth' Parliament (although under certain limited circumstances the Governor­ General can authorise a referendum question which has only passed one house). Secondly, the proposal must be put to the people and passed at a referendum.

The referendum campaign is accompanied by govemment distribution to each household of a pamphlet including the cases for YES and NO (each in 2000 words or less) and a statement outlining the textual alterations and additions to the Constitution that have been proposed. This is in accordance with the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act, 1984.37 The preparation and authorisation of these cases is the responsibility of those parliamentarians who voted accordingly in the parliament. The NO case is prepared only if there are votes against the bill in the Parliament.

The limitations of this method of informing electors have previously been recognised.38 The government has been prevented from spending any other money in support of the YES case, whatever spending is undertaken by other organisations, including state governments. The official arguments have tended to be partisan cases rather than the provision of reasonably factual information. It is for these reasons that alterations to the process have been agreed to under the Referendum Legislation Amendment Bill 1999 (see below).

Once the vote has been taken the proposed change is approved if two majorities are achieved: an overall majority ofvoters and a majority of voters in a majority (i.e. four or more) of the states. The votes from the two territories are only counted in the calculation of the national result. These requirements have caused some referendums to fail. Five proposals, including most recently Simultaneous Elections for the House of Representatives and the Senate in 1977, have failed despite attracting overall majorities. 39 There have been no cases ofthe reverse occurring.

Public Opinion

Surveys of Australian attitudes towards the monarchy and republican constitutional change have been undertaken by polling organisations since 1953, at which time support for a republic was IS per cent. 40 Appendices 3 and 4 contain the pro-republic and pro-

13 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

monarchy percentages from then until February 1999. 41 Analysts of these surveys point out that they need to be interpreted cautiously as the wording of the questions is rarely identical and attitudes vary according to the question asked.

Majority community support as measured by public opinion polls does not necessarily translate into majority support for the YES case at a referendum. Support may evaporate during the referendum campaign. In one famous case of this the Menzies government's referendum to ban the Communist Party in 1951 was defeated, after a NO campaign led by the Labor Party leader Dr H. V. Evatt, despite previously enjoying apparent majority commtrrritysupport.42

Broadly speaking Australians favoured the monarchy until the 1990s. There was not a single case of a majority for the republic, although the size of the minority steadily increased, reaching about 25 per cent in the 1960s and about 30 per cent in the . During the 1980s the majority for the monarchy was usually about 60 per cent with about 30 per cent supporting a republic and about 10 per cent undecided.43

This changed quite quickly in the 1990s for reasons discussed earlier. They included growing nationalism stimulated by earlier events such as the 1988 Bicentennial celebrations, the changing character of the Australian commtrrrity and the active support for a republic now emanating from some community organisations and political parties. In 1991-92 support for republicanism increased and individual surveys began to report either majority opinion (more than 50 per cent) or plurality opinion (greater than support for the monarchy but less than 50 per cent because of undecided respondents) in favour of a republic.

Attitudes towards the monarchy/republic vary according to the social and political background ofthe respondents in ways that are generally not surprising given the general character of Australian political life. Liberal and National voters are much more likely to support the monarchy than Labor voters. So too are a number of other categories, including: women rather than men; older rather than younger citizens; rural rather than urban residents; members ofthe main Protestant denominations rather than Catholics and those of no religious affiliation; and Australians born in England rather than other Australians.44 As for regional differences, accordin~ to one study, Queenslanders and Tasmanians stand out as supporters ofthe status quo.4

By the time ofthe Constitutional Convention in February 1998 surveys regularly reported a majority in favour of an Australian republic ~though this is not to say that this is how Australians would have voted at a referendum). 6 As the ARMlKeating minimalist model became more clearly defined surveys began to test public opinion towards this particular model. They reported that faced with a choice between a president directly elected by the people and a president elected by parliament a large majority supported the former. For instance, a poll taken in the first week of February 1998, during the Constitutional Convention, reported that 66 per cent supported election by popular vote compared with election by Parliament (17 per cent) and the McGarvie model (10 per cent).47 When pitted

14 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

against the status quo only the popular election model produced a majority for the republic. At the Constitutional Convention itself advocates of direct election, notably Associate Professor Patrick O'Brien from WA, made great play ofthese survey results.48

Since then most surveys have addressed this aspect of the question as well as opinion for/against the republic. Surveys continue to show majority support for a directly elected president. They show also that, despite continued majority support for a republic the parliamentary model that was recommended by the Constitutional Convention would not have majority support and would fail to pass. for instance, this was the case in both an Age/AC Nielsen poll in January 1999 and a survey in March 1999.49 The former, presented under the headline 'Voters reject republic' reported that only 41 per cent would vote for a republic with an appointed president. The figure in the latter was only 33 per cent and the headline was 'Republic case in crisis'. Yet on both occasions general support for a republic was far greater, by about 15 per cent, than general support for the monarchy.

Nevertheless, there is no agreement as to what these results actually mean.50 The wording of questions continues to make quite a difference (which suggests that the wording ofthe referendum question may also be crucial to the outcome). furthermore, there continues to be a substantial number of Australians, between 10 per cent and 17 per cent of the community, that is uncommitted.

The most favourable recent response in favour of the republic came from a poll commissioned by the ARM and conducted by Newspoll in January 1999. The question read:

The referendum later this year will propose to amend the Constitution to replace the Queen with an Australian Head of State chosen by a two-thirds majority ofParliament with the support ofboth sides ofpolitics. Tbis will very likely mean that the new Head of State will not be a politician. With this in mind will you yourself vote YES or will you vote NO in the referendum to make this change to the Constitution? The result was 58.3 per cent YES, 30.7 per cent NO and 10.8 per cent DON'T KNOWIREFUSED,.51

Major Participants in The Debate

The positions of those who will playa major role in the referendum debate have now almost all been made public. The processes are being led by the Prime Minister, the Attorney-General, who has responsibility for the bills, and the Special Minister of State, who has responsibility for the conduct of the referendum itself, with the administrative support ofthe Referendum Taskforce. for further details see Appendix 5.

The Liberal Party is divided and there are both monarchists and republicans in about equal numbers among Cabinet ministers. The National Party is uniformly monarchist and the Labor Party is solidly republican. The Australian Democrats are republican and are

IS From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

currently deliberating further within their party on the merits of the referendum model versus popular election. State political leaders have generally declared their positions and most are republicans. For further details of all these party positions at both Commonwealth and State level, and those ofthe Greens and 's One Nation Party see Appendix 5.

The major part ofthe advocacy in the debate will be carried out by committed community organisations. On the YES side these include the Australian Republican Movement, Conservatives for an Australian Head of State, members of the YES Coalition and a number of smaller republican groups. For further details of these organisations see Appendix 6. The NO side includes Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, Real Republicans, and the Returned Services League. For further details see Appendix 7.

Leading members ofthese organisations have come together in the YES and NO campaign committees. For further details, including staff, see Appendix 8

Important participants also include some uncommitted bodies, such as the Constitutional Centenary Foundation, which engages in public education and Issues Deliberation Australia, which will conduct a deliberative poll, Australia Deliberates: A Republic. Yes or No on 22-24 October 1999. For further details see Appendix 9.

Finally, there have been a number ofindividuals who have played a prominent role. Many of them are formally part of the advocacy groups and are discussed in this paper in that context, but some republicans, on both the YES and the NO side, are unattached. For details see Appendix 10.

Issues for Resolution during 1999

The Timing of the Referendum

It now appears almost certain that the referendum will be held on Saturday, 6 November.52 The referendum legislation will be introduced about mid-year. The referendum must be held no less than two months and no more than six months after the legislation has passed.53

The Referendum Questions

The Prime Minister decided, early in 1999, that there would be two questions-one on the republic and one on a new preamble to the constitution.54 Mr Howard announced that he would take a personal interest in the drafting of the Preamble. The Attorney-General

16 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

would take responsibility for the Republic question. Coalition MPs were told at this time that the republic question would ask whether the 'Constitution should be altered to establish the Commonwealth ofAustralia as a republic with a president chosen by a two­ thirds majority ofParliament'.55 Each question's wording will be the final responsibility of Cabinet.

On 9 March the government released the Exposure Draft of the Constitution Alteration (Establishment ofRepublic) 1999 Bill for public comment by 16 April. The draft does not depart from the major recommendations ofthe Constitutional Convention in regard to the appointment and removal of the President, and hislher powers. 56 The same is true of the position of the states. Any state 'that has not altered its laws to sever its links with the Crown by the time the office of Governor-General ceases to exist retains its links with the Crown until it has so altered its laws'. 57 The bill addresses some additional matters, such as the positions ofActing President and Deputy President, and removes all references to the Queen and the Governor-General.

The proposed question has so far proved relatively uncontroversial, although , for CAHS, has claimed that, by failing to mention the Queen, it 'includes a clever selection of words most likely to provoke a negative reaction from people at the very moment they go to vote'. Robb proposed an alternative wording along the following lines: 'A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution to provide for an Australian citizen, chosen by a two thirds majority of a joint sitting of the Federal Parliament, to replace the British Monarch as Australia's head ofstate'. 58

The Public Education Programme

The traditional paper versions of the YES and NO cases will be supplemented on this occasion by wider distribution, including on the Internet. Furthermore, the government has allocated $4.5 million funding to a separate public education programme.59 This programme is likely to begin towards the end of May, peaking in September. It will include:

• information on the current system ofgovernment

• information on the referendum process, and

• information on the actual questions.

The campaign will be advised by an advisory panel of experts, chaired by Sir and also including Professor Geoffrey Blainey, Dr Colin Howard QC, Professor Cheryl Saunders and Dr John Hirst.6o The Newspoll organisation has been commissioned to survey the community's existing knowledge about the above questions.

17 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

The YES and NO Media Campaigns

There will also be a $15 million government funded media campaign organised by two ten-person teams drawn from the Constitutional Convention delegates. 61 These campaigns will occur in the month leading up to the referendum, after the conclusion of the government's public education campaign.

The Presidential Nominations Committee

The consultative committee, which ifthe referendum is successful will be responsible for recommending names to the prime minister, will have 32 members. It will be known as the Presidential Nominations Committee. Half of its membership will be politicians-eight from the federal parliament and eight from the states and territories. The Commonwealth members will be chosen on the basis ofthe representation ofparties in the parliament. One state representative will be nominated by each state parliament or territory legislative assembly. The other 16 will be community representatives, who may not be parliamentarians, appointed by the prime minister (they could however be former parliamentarians).62 One member ofthe committee will be appointed as the convenor.

On 9 March the Exposure Draft ofthe Presidential Nominations Committee Bill 1999 was released for public comment by 16 April.

Implications for the States

The major developments so far have been statements of personal position by state and territory leaders and MPs (see below). The implications for the states were discussed at the Premiers Conference in April 1999 but no resolution was reached.63 However, if the referendum is passed it appears that all Australian governments are aiming for a simultaneous change to a republic on 1 January, 2001.64

Conclusion

It is too early to predict the shape of the referendum campaign, much less the outcome. The relevant bills have not yet been passed by the parliament and the campaign proper is yet to begin. We do not yet even know if the referendum will have one question or two. The media are still concentrating on other things and may well do so until October.

What we do know however that the publicly funded campaign for this historic referendum is likely to be the most expensive ever undertaken. The 1999-2000 Budget estimates that

18 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

the referendum will cost the government $79 million. There will also be considerable privately funded campaigning. Judging by the campaign appointments made so far it will be fought with all the techniques of modem election campaigning. It will include large scale, centralised media and direct mail campaigns as well as local grass-roots activities. In scale it will be at least the equivalent in size of a federal election campaign, perhaps bigger.

Judging by the debate so far it will also be as divisive as any previous referendum. The arguments will be extremely wide-ranging, covering many aspects of the Australian political system, and there will be numerous participants. On both the YES and the NO sides there will be a variety of views expressed because each side is made up of a loose coalition of organisations. Because there is a great deal at stake it is likely that there will be no holds barred.

An important aspect of the campaigns, in addition to substantive arguments about the republic, will be the debate about whether the timing ofthe proposed change is appropriate and what will follow if the referendum where to be defeated. There are various views about this question.65 The question of whether or not there will be another referendum in the foreseeable future, should this one be defeated, may well influence the outcome. Would a NO vote entrench the constitutional monarchy or lead the way to a popularly elected president or lead to another vote on the same republican model? Until we know the dimensions ofthe result on 6 November we can only speculate.

Endnotes

1. M. McKenna, The Captive Republic: A History ofRepublicanism in Australia, 1788-1996, Cambridge University Press, 1996; D. Headon, J. Warden and B. Gammage eds, Crown or Country: The Traditions ofAustralian Republicanism, Allen and Unwin, Sydney, 1994. 2. G. Dutton, ed., Australia and the Monarchy, Sun Books, 1966; G. Dutton ed., Republican Australia? Sun Books, 1977. 3. J. Warhurst, 'Nationalism and Republicanism in Australia: The Evolution of Institutions, Citizenship and Symbols', Australian Journal ofPolitical Science, vol. 28,1993, pp. 100-20. 4. C. Hide, 'The Recent Republic Debate-A Chronology', June 1996 in Department of the Parliamentary Library, The Constitution Papers, Parliamentary Research Service, Subject Collection No.7, Publishing Service, 1996; McKenna, 'The Captive Republic', Chapter II; Constitutional Convention Report, vol. I, Chapter 3. 5. ibid., vol. I, p. 13. 6. 'Republic Advisory Committee An Australian Republic: The Options', vol. I, The Report, Commonwealth ofAustralia, 1993.

19 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

7. ibid., p. 10. 8. M. Ryan, ed, Advancing Australia: The Speeches of Paul Keating, Prime Minister, Big Picture Publications, 1995, pp. 173-84. 9. W. Hudson and D. Carter, eds, The Republicanism Debate, New South Wales University Press, 1993; S. Lawson and G. Maddox, eds, 'Australia's Republican Question', Special Issue, Australian Journal ofPolitical Science, vol. 28, 1993; G. Winterton ed., We, The People, Allen and Unwin, 1994. 10 For an analysis ofthe 1996 elections see C. Bean, S. Bennett, M. Simms and J. Warhurst eds, The Politics ofRetribution, Allen and Unwin, 1997. 11. Australian Electoral Commission Constitutional Convention Election 97: The Australian Electoral Commission's Report and Statistics, Commonwealth ofAustralia, 1998. 12. ibid., p. 18. 13. ibid., p. 19. 14. Australian Electoral Commission Constitutional Convention Election 97, pp. 33--4. 15. Constitutional Convention Report, op. cit., pp. 58--{i0. 16. G. Williams, 'Constitutional Convention,'; Department of the Parliamentary Library, 1998; S. Vizard, Two Weeks in Lilliput, Penguin, 1998. 17. J. Curtin, 'The 1998 Women's Constitutional Convention', Research Note 21, Department of the Parliamentary Library, 1997-98. 18 A. Rollins 'Women's meeting backs republic with enshrined rights', , 31 January 1998. 19. Constitutional Convention Report, vol. 1, p. 1. 20. ibid., p. 43. 21. ibid., p. 38. 22. ibid., p. 38. 23. ibid., p. 47. 24. ibid., p. 49. 25. ibid., p. 45; in general on this model see also Constitutional Centenary Foundation, Voting on a Republic, CCF, 1998. 26. ibid., p. 44. 27. ibid., p. 44. 28. ibid., p. 44. 29. ibid., p. 45. 30. ibid., p. 45.

20 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

31. See also Scott Bennett and Sean Brennan, 'Constitutional Referenda in Australia', Forthcoming Research Paper, Department ofthe Parliamentary, 1998-99. 32. Constitutional Convention Report, vol. 1, p. 3. 33 B. Galligan, A Federal Republic: Australia's constitutional System ofGovernment, Cambridge University Press, 1995, p. 121. 34. B. Galligan, 'The Politics ofConstitutional Change' in M. Coper and G. Williams, eds, Power, Parliament and the People, The Federation Press, 1997, pp. 6-15; C. Saunders, 'The Australian experience with constitutional review', Australian Quarterly, vol. 66, no. 3, Spring 1994, pp. 49-66. 35. B. Galligan and J. R. Nethercote, eds, The Constitutional Commission and the 1988 Referendums, Centre for Research on Federal Financial Relations and Royal Australian Institute ofPublic Administration (ACT Division), Canberra, 1989. 36. Saunders, 'The Australian experience ...', op. cit., p. 54. 37. Section 11 Distribution to Electors ofArguments For and Against Proposed Law. 38. E. Campbell, 'Southey Memorial Lecture 1988: Changing the Constitution-Past and Future', University Law Review, vol. 17, no.l, June 1989, pp. 1-23; L. Lenaz-Hoare, 'The History of the 'YES/NO' Case in Federal Referendums, and a Suggestion for the Future', in Australian Constitutional Convention, Constitutional Amendment Sub-Committee, Report to Standing Committee, 1984, Appendix 5, pp. 85-93; C. Saunders, 'Referendum Procedures' in ibid, Appendix 7, pp. 111-7. 39. Saunders, 'The Australian Experience .. .', op. cit., p. 55. 40. M. Goot, 'Monarchy or Republic? An Analysis of the Questions and Answers in Surveys of Australian Public Opinion', in Executive Government: Report ofthe Advisory Committee to the Constitutional Commission, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, 1987; C. Bean, 'Public Attitudes on the Monarchy-Republic Issue', Australian Journal ofPolitical Science, vol. 28, Special Issue, 1993, pp. 190-206; M. Goot, 'Contingent inevitability: Reflections on the prognosis for republicanism' in G. Winterton, ed, We, the People, op. cit., pp. 63-96. 41. Opinion polls on an Australian republic: 1953-1999, Australian Republican Movement, http://www.republic.org.au/issues/pollsumm.html. 7 April 1999. 42 L. C. Webb, Communism and Democracy in Australia: A Survey of the 1951 Referendum, Praeger, 1955. 43. Bean, op. cit., p. 193, Table 1 'Attitudes towards the Monarchy-Republic Issue, 1967-1990 (in percentages)'. 44. Bean, op. cit., pp. 196-201. 45. Bean, op. cit., p. 1999. 46. For instance, see Roy Morgan Research Centre, Australian Financial Review, 14 February 1998: YES 53 per cent; NO 39 per cent; 'UNDECIDED' 8 per cent. 47. Newspoll,Australian, 10 February 1998.

21 From Constitutional Convention to Republic Referendum

48. Australian, 11 February 1998. 49. The Age, 26 January 1999; Australian, 3 March 1999. 50. M. McKenna, 'Too early fotllOiling pessimism', Australian, 1 March 1999. 51. Newspoll Market Research, Job No. 990103, Republic Study, January 1999. 52 Australian Financial Review, 13 May 1999. 53. D. Williams, 'Republic Referendum: The Process Leading to the Referendum', video address to the National Convention ofRepublicans, 6 February 1999. 54. 16 February 1999. 55. Australian Financial Review, 17 February 1999. 56. Constitutional Centenary Foundation, Analysis of the Constitution Alteration (Establishment ofthe Republic) Bill 1999 and the Presidential Nomination Committee Bill 1999, Melbourne, 1999. 57. Exposure Draft, section 5 'The States'. 58. A. Robb, 'An Australian Head of State ... a small, yet symbolic step', National Press Club, 29 March 1999, p. 4. 59. Senator Chris Ellison, Senate Hansard, 29 March 1999. 60 The Hon. Daryl Williams, Attorney-General, and Senator the Hon. Chris Ellison, Special Minister of State, 'Expert Panel for the Public Education Progranune for the Referendum on the Australian Republic', Joint News Release, 20 April 1999. 61. The Hon. Daryl Williams, Attorney-General and Senator the Hon Chris Ellison, Special Minister of State, 'Advertising for the referendum on the republic', Joint News Release, 16 February 1999, and 'Committees for the advertising for the referendum on the republic', Joint News Release, 19 February 1999. 62. Australian Financial Review, 17 February 1999. 63. L. Dodson, 'A state of concern about the fate of Governors', Australian Financial Review, 10 April 1999. 64. Australian, 16 April 1999. 65. J. Warhurst, 'Much to debate before November 6', Canberra Times, 15 May 1999.

22 Appendix 1: Delegates to the 1998 Constitutional Convention

Appendix 1: Delegates to the 1998 Constitutional Convention 1. Elected delegates (in order of election for each State and Territory)

New South Wales

1. Mr Malcolm Turnbull (Australian Republican Movement) 2. Mr Doug Sutherland (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 3. Mr Ted Mack (Ted Mack) 4. Ms Wendy Machin (Australian Republican Movement) 5. Mrs Kerry Jones (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 6. Mr Ed Haber (Ted Mack) 7. The Hon AC QC (Australian Republican Movement) 8. Cr Julian Leeser (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 9. Ms (Australian Republican Movement) 10. Mr Peter Grogan (Australian Republican Movement) 11. Ms Jennie George (Australian Republican Movement) 12. Ms Christine Ferguson (No Republie--Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 13. Mr Alasdair P Webster (Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)) 14. Ms Glenda Hewitt (ungrouped-I Care About Australia's Future) 15. Dr Pat O'Shane AM (A Just Republic) 16. Brigadier Alf Garland AM (Australian Monarchist League) 17. Mr Andrew Gunter (Ethos-Elect the Head ofState) 18. Ms Hazel Hawke (Australian Republican Movement) 19. Mr Jason Yat-Sen Li (ungrouped-A Multi-Cultural Voice) 20. Ms Catherine Moore (Greens, Bill ofRights, Indigenous Peoples)

Victoria 1. Mr Eddie McGuire (Australian Republican Movement) 2. The Hon Don Chipp AO (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 3. The Reverend Tim Costello (Real Republic) 4. Mr Bruce Ruxton AM OBE (Safeguard the People) 5. Ms Mary Delahunty (Australian Republican Movement) 6. Ms Sophie Panopoulos (No Republie--Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 7. . Mr Steve Vizard AM (Australian Republican Movement) 8. Ms Poppy King (Australian Republican Movement) 9. Mr Lindsay Fox AO (Australian Republican Movement)

23 Appendix 1: Delegates to the 1998 Constitutional Convention

10. The Hon Vernon Wilcox CBE (Safeguard the People) 11. Ms Moira Rayner (Real Republic) 12. Ms Misha Schubert (Republic4U-The Youth Ticket) 13. The Hon Jim Ramsay (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 14. MrKenneth Gifford QC (Australian Monarchist League) 15. Mr Phil Cleary (ungrouped-Phil Cleary-Independent Australia) 16. Mr Eric G Bullmore (Shooters Party)

Queensland 1. The Hon James Killen KCMG (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 2. Dr Clem Jones (Clem Jones Queensland Constitutional Republic Team) 3. The Hon Michael Lavarch (Australian Republican Movement) 4. Dr Glen Sheil (Constitutional Monarchists) 5. Mr AO (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 6. Mr David Alexander Muir (Clem Jones Queensland Constitutional RepUblic Team) 7. Ms Sallyanne Atkinson AO (Australian Republican Movement) 8. Mr Thomas Bradley (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 9. Lady Florence Isabel Bjelke-Petersen (Constitutional Monarchists) 10. Ms Mary Kelly (Women for a Just Republic) 11. Ms Sarina Russo (Australian Republican Movement) 12. Cr Paul Tully (Queenslanders for a Republic) 13. Cr Ann Bunnell (Clem Jones Queensland Constitutional Republic Team)

Western Australia 1. Ms Janet Hohnes a Court AO (Australian Republican Movement) 2. The Rt Hon Reg Withers (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 3. ProfPeter Tannock (Australian Republican Movement) 4. Mr GeoffHoum (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 5. Mr Graham Edwards (Australian Republican Movement) 6. Ms Clare Thompson (Australian Republican Movement) 7. Ms Marylyn Rodgers (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 8. Mr Liam Bartlett (ungrouped-An Open Mind for the FutUre) 9. ProfPatrick O'Brien (Elect the President)

24 Appendix I: Delegates tothe 1998 Constitutional Convention

South Australia 1. Mr Kym Bonython AC DFC APC (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 2. Dr Baden Teague (Australian Republican Movement) 3. The Right Reverend John Hepworth (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 4. Ms Linda Kirk (Australian Republican Movement) 5. Ms Victoria Manetta (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 6. Dr Tony Cocchiaro (Australian Republican Movement) 7. Father John Fleming (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 8. Ms Kirsten Andrews (Australian Republican Movement)

Tasmania 1. Mr Edward O'Farrell CVO CBE (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 2. Mr Julian Green (Australian Republican Movement) 3. Mr Michael Castle (No Republic-Australians for Constitutional Monarchy) 4. Ms Marguerite Scott (Australian Republican Movement) 5. Dr David Mitchell (The Australian Monarchist League) 6. Mr Eric Lockett (ungrouped-Voice ofOrdinary, Fair-Minded, Thinking Citizens)

Australian Capital Territory 1. Ms Anne Witheford (Australian Repubican Movement) 2. Mr Frank Cassidy (Australian Republican Movement)

Northern Territory 1. Mr David Curtis (A Just Republic) 2. Mr Michael Kilgariff(ungrouped-Territory Republican)

2. Appointed delegates-nan-parliamentary

Ms Andrea Ang (WA) Mr Donald McGauchie AC (VIC) Ms Stella Axarlis (VIC) The Hon Dame Roma Mitchell AC (SA) Ms Dannalee Bell (VIC) Mr Carl Moller (TAS) Ms (WA) Cr Joan Moloney (QLD) Prof Geoffrey Blainey AO (VIC) Mr George Mye MBE AM (QLDfIAS) ProfGreg Craven (WA) Mr Ben Myers (QLD) Ms Miranda Devine (NSW) Ms Moira O'Brien (NT) Mr Gatjil Djerrkura OAM (NT) Dr Lois O'Donoghue CBE AM (SA)

25 Appendix I: Delegates to the 1998 Constitutional Convention

Ms Mia Handshin (SA) Sir Arvi Parbo AC (VIC) The Hon Bill Hayden AC (QLD) The Most Reverend George Pell (VIC) The Most Reverend Peter Hollingworth Ms Nova Peris-Kneebone OAM (NTIWA) AO OBE (QLD) Ms Mary Imlach (TAS) Mr Peter Sams (NSW) Major General WB James AO MBE MC ProfJudith Sloan (SA) (QLD) Mr Adam Johnston (NSW) Sir David Smith KCVO AO (ACT) Mrs Annette Knight AM (WA) ProfTrang Thomas AM (VIC) Dame Leonie Kramer AC (NSW) Mr Lloyd Waddy RFD QC (NSW) Ms Helen Lynch AM (NSW) ProfGeorge Winterton (NSW) The Hon Richard McGarvie AC (VIC) Ms Heidi Zwar (ACT)

Commonwealth

Government The Hon John Howard MP (Prime Minister) The Hon MP (Treasurer) The Hon Daryl Williams AM QC MP (Attorney-General) Senator the Hon Robert Hill (Minister for the Environment) Senator the Hon Jocelyn Newman (Minister for Social Security) Mr Neil Andrew MP Mrs Chris Gallus MP Mr Kevin Andrews MP Senator Alan Ferguson The Hon MP (Deputy Prime Minister) The Hon John Anderson MP (Minister for Primary Industries and Energy) Senator Ron Boswell (Leader ofthe National Party ofAustralia in the Senate)

Australian Labor Party The Hon MP (Leader ofthe Opposition) The Hon Gareth Evans QC MP Senator the Hon John Faulkner (Leader ofthe Opposition in the Senate) Senator Sue West (Deputy President ofthe Senate) Senator the Hon Senator Kate Lundy

Australian Democrats Senator

26 Appendix 1: Delegates to the 1998 Constitutional Convention

Independent/Green Mr Allan Rocher MP StatelTerritory

NSW The Hon MP (Premier) The Hon Peter Collins QC MP (Leader ofthe Opposition) The Hon JeffShaw QC MLC (Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations)

VIC The Hon JeffKennett MLA (Premier) Mr John Brumby MLA (Leader ofthe Opposition) The Hon Pat McNamara MLA (Deputy Premier and Minister for Agriculture)

QlD The Hon Rob Borbidge MLA (Premier) Mr MLA (Leader ofthe Opposition) The Hon Denver Beanland MLA (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice)

WA The Hon Richard Court MLA (Premier) Dr Geoffrey Gallop MLA (Leader ofthe Opposition) The Hon Hendy Cowan MLA (Deputy Premier)

SA The Hon FNIA MP (Premier) The Hon Michael Rann MP (Leader ofthe Opposition) Mr Mike Elliott MLC (Leader ofthe Australian Democrats)

TAS The Hon Tony Rundle MHA (Premier) Mr Jim Bacon MBA (Leader ofthe Opposition) Mrs Christine Milne MHA (Leader ofthe Tasmanian Greens)

Territories Mrs Kate Camell MLA (ChiefMinister, ACT) The Hon Shane Stone MLA (ChiefMinister, Northern Territory)

Source: http://www.dpmc.gov.au/convention/delegate.htm

27 Appendix 2: Summary ofConstitutional Referendums

Appendix 2: Summary of Constitutional Referendums

Subject Date Government Yes Yes States Per cent 1 Senate Elections' Dec 1906' Non-Labor All 82.7 2 State Debts' Apr 1910b Non-Labor 5 54.9 3 Finance Apr 1910b Non-Labor 3 49.0 4 Legislative Powers' Apr 1911 Labor 1 (WA) 39.4 5 Monopolies' Apr 1911 Labor 1 (WA) 39.9 6 Trade and Connnerce' May 1913b Labor 3 49.4 7 CorporationsC May 1913b Labor 3 49.3 8 Industrial Matters' May 1913b Labor 3 49.3 9 Trusts' May 1913b Labor 3 49.8 10 Nationalisation ofMonopolies' May 1913b Labor 3 49.3 11 Railway Disputes' May 1913b Labor 3 49.1 12 Legislative Powers' Dec 1919b Non-Labor 3 49.7 13 Nationalisation ofMonopolies' Dec 1919b Non-Labor 3 48.6 14 Industry and Connnerce' Sep 1926 Non-Labor 2 43.5 15 Essential Servicesc Sep 1926 Non-Labor 2 42.8 16 State Debts' Nov 1928b Non-Labor All 74.3 17 AviationC Mar 1937 Non-Labor 2 53.6 18 Marketing' Mar 1937 Non-Labor None 36.3 19 Reconstruction, Democratic Rights Aug 1944 Labor 2 46.0 20 Social Servicesac Sep 1946b Labor All 54.4 21 Marketing ofPrimary Products' Sep 1946b Labor 3 50.6 22 Industrial Employment' Sep 1946b Labor 3 50.3 23 Rents and Prices' May 1948 Labor None 40.7 24 Communismc Sep 1951 Non-Labor 3 49.4 25 Parliament May 1967 Non-Labor 1 (NSW) 40.3 26 Aboriginalsac May 1967 Non-Labor All 90.8 27 Pricesc Dec 1973 Labor None 43.8 28 Incomesc Dec 1973 Labor None 34.4 29 Simultaneous Electionsd May 1974b Labor 1 (NSW) 48.3 30 Alteriog Constitution May 1974b Labor 1 (NSW) 48.0 31 Democratic Elections May 1974b Labor 1 (NSW) 47.2 32 Local Government Bodies' May 1974b Labor 1 (NSW) 46.9 33 Simultaneous Electionsd May 1977 Non-Labor 3 62.2 34 Senate Casual Vacancies' May 1977 Non-Labor All 73.3 35 Referendums' May 1977 Non-Labor All 77.7 36 Retirement ofJUd~es' May 1977 Non-Labor All 80.1 37 Terms ofSenators Dec 1984b Labor 2 50.6 38 Interchange ofPowers Dec 1984b Labor None 47.1 39 Parliamentary Terms Sep 1988 Labor None 32.9 40 Fair Elections Sep 1988 Labor None 37.6 41 Local Government Sep 1988 Labor None 33.6 42 Rights and Freedoms Sep 1988 Labor None 30.8 (a) Referendum carried. (b) Held on same day as general election. (c) Referendum including a proposed amendment to section 51. (d) These three proposals were identical even though the titles varied. Source: I. McAllister, Malcolm Mackerras, Alvaro Ascui and Susan Moss, Australian Political Facts, Longman Cheshire, 1990, p. 80.

29 Appendix 3: Opinion Polls on an Australian Republic

Appendix 3: Opinion Polls on an Australian Republic Opinion polls on an Australian republic: 1953-1999 Opinion Polls on an Australian Republic

IlO

70 ,. goo '[ g-40 " :lIl ,. ,.

1:"956 1:961) 1tu 1~ 1m 1m 19110 1984 18 19$2 1* 2QOO Dot. These graphs (bottom graph shows same in detail for the last 15 years) show the changing mood of the Australian people over the past 46 years on the issue of Australia retaining the monarchy or becoming a republic. Despite variations up and down, the increasing trend ofsupport for a republic is undeniable and it is now clear that a majority ofAustralians want to see Australia become a republic.

Opl nlon Polls on an Australian Republl~ 70

IS ,.

50

50 l: 1~ '"40•

:IS

30

25 ,.~~iJi0~~~:i2 Jan19B4 Jan1i9BS ....,1988 Jan1990 Jul19t2 Jan1lU JaniS JlIIl:l1. JM2UJO Dot.

Source: http://www.republic.org.au/issues/pollsumm.html

31 Appendix 4: Poll Data

Appendix 4: Poll Data

Date PoUster and (question) Pro-republic % Pro-monarchy % Undecided June 1953 Morgan Gallup Poll (a) 15 77 8 April 1966 Morgan Gallup Poll (b) 22 65 13 July 1966 Morgan Gallup Poll (b) 28 63 9 February 1968 Morgan Gallup Poll (b) 40 53 7 October 1969 Morgan Gallup Poll (a) 24 64 12 June 1970 Morgan Gallup Poll (c) 26 68 6 February 1973 Morgan Gallup Poll (a) 42 50 8 November 1973 Morgan Gallup Poll (c) 32 53 15 December 1975 Bulletin (a) 28 61 11 October 1976 Bulletin (a) 25 60 15 December 1976 Age (b) 39 58 3 April 1977 Bulletin (a) 26 62 12 December 1978 Sun Herald (a) 31 61 8 Australian Public Opinion Polls-the 31 61 8 November 1979 Gallup Method (a) Apri11980 Age (b) 36 61 3 August 1981 Bulletin (a) 28 59 13 Australian Public Opinion Polls-the 30 60 10 September 1982 Gallup Method (a) January 1983 Bulletin (a) 28 60 12 January 1984 Bulletin (a) 30 62 8 February 1985 Age (a) 30 63 8 1984-85 National Social Science Survey (d) 41 59 0 April 1985 Quadrant (e) 30 62 8 March 1986 Frank Small & Associates (i) 36 45 16 1986-87 National Social Science Survey (d) 40 59 1 October 1987 Newspoll (e) 21 64 15 1987-88 National Social Science Survey (d) 41 59 0 1990 National Social Science survey (d) 41 58 0 June 1991 Newspoll (e) 34 52 14 February 1992 Saulwick (I) 57 39 4 March 1992 Newspoll (e) 44 40 16 April 1992 Saulwick (I) 56 42 3 May 1992 Newspoll (e) 41 45 14 March 1993 Saulwick (I) 66 30 4 April 1993 Newspoll (e) 46 35 19 April 1993 AGB McNair (e) 45 36 19 April 1993 Morgan (g) 52 38 10 April 1993 Morgan (h) 56 35 9 July 1993 Newspoll (e) 46 36 18 July 1993 Saulwick (I) 62 34 4 September 1993 Newspoll (b) 39 44 17 October 1993 AGB McNair (e) 48 42 10 November 1993 Newspoll (e) 39 44 17 December 1993 Morgan (h) 44 48 8 March 1994 Newspoll (e) 39 43 18 September 1994 Newspoll (e) 42 43 15 March 1995 Newspoll (e) 47 34 19 July 1995 Newspoll (e) 50 35 15

33 Appendix 4: Poll Data

Date Pollster and (question) Pro-republic % Pro-monarchy % Undecided December 1996 AGB McNair (e) 55 38 7 February 1997 Newspoll (e) 47 28 25 June 1997 Newspoll (e) 49 30 21 September i997 Newspoll (e) 54 30 16 November 1997 Newspoll (e) 52 33 15 December 1997 Constitutional Convention Election 57 34 9 December 1997 Newspoll (e) 51 35 14 February 1998 Roy Morgan (g) 52 37 11 January 1999 Newspoll (e) 48 35 17 February 1999 Newspoll CD 58 31 11 Questions Asked (a) Retain the Monarchy or become a Republic? (b) Retain present links with the United Kingdom or become an entirely separate Republic? (c) At the end ofthe Queen Elizabeth's reign, should we recognise Charles as King orbecome a Republic with an elected President? (d) Should Australia retain the Queen as Head ofState or become a Republic? ('Definitely' and 'Probably' figures combined in the table) (e) Should Australia become a Republic? (I) Should Australia remain a Monarchy within the (British) Commonwealth, become a Republic within the Commonwealth, or a Republic outside the Commonwealth? (Republic figure in the table is a composite ofthe latter two answers) (g) Should Australia remain a Monarchy or become a Republic with an elected President? (h) Should Australia remain a Monarchy or become a Republic by the year 200l? (i) Question not specified. G) The referendum later this year will propose to amend the Constitution to replace the Queen with an Australian Head ofState chosen by a two-thirds majority ofParliament with the support ofboth sides ofpolitics. Will you vote YES or will you vote NO in the referendum to make this change to the Constitution?"

Source: G. Winterton, Monarchy to Republic: Australian Republican Government, Oxford University Press, 1994. Figures since 1994 from The Australian and Sydney Morning Herald archives. Source: Australian Republican Movement, http://www.republic.org.au/issues/pollsumm.html

34 Appendix 5: Governments and Political Parties

Appendix 5: Governments and Political Parties The Prime Minister

The Prime Minister, John Howard, has taken the position that parliamentary members of the Liberal Party will have a free/conscience vote at the time ofthe referendum, and they will be able to campaign freely in the lead up to the referendum vote. This position has since been extended to the National Party members ofthe Coalition. He has maintained his personal position in support ofthe status quo, while giving an undertaking not to campaign for either NO or YES.

In January 1999 the Prime Minister wrote to the premiers asking for their commitment to help push through constitutional change simultaneously ifthe referendum passes.2 Attorney-General

The Attorney General, Daryl Williams, has responsibility for the carriage ofthe bills in the Parliament and chairs the Referendum Task Force (sometimes referred to as the referendum steering group).

On 19 February 1999 Williams announced the names of the two ten-member teams responsible for planning and managing national paid media campaigns to supplement the official YES and NO campaigns prior to the referendum.

The members of the YES team are: Malcom Turnbull, Janet Holmes a Court, Neville Wran, Lowitja O'Donoghue, Gareth Evans MHR, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, Chris Gallus MHR, Jason Yat-Sen Li, Professor Greg Craven and Steve Vizard.

The members ofthe NO team are Kerry Jones, Cr Julian Leeser, Major-General "Digger" James, Senator Ron Boswell, Dame Leonie Kramer, Senator Alan Ferguson, Sir David Smith, Heidi Zwar, Ted Mack and Clem Jones. The first eight are monarchists while the last two are direct election republicans.

Each was given responsibility for half ($7.5 million) of the $15 million allocated for the national media component ofthe YES and NO cases. Guidelines, released in April by the Attorney-General, will apply to these campaigns which will be restricted to the month leading up to the referendum. Under the guidelines:

• the committees must restrict their activities to the use ofthe Commonwealth govenunent funding and cannot accept donations or raise other funds

• competitive selection processes should be considered for work contracted out where this is feasible and there should be proper monitoring ofthe performance ofcontractors

35 Appendix 5: Governments andPolitical Parties

• records are to be made available for audit and are to be transferred in full to Prime Minister & Cabinet

• the committees will be required to submit a proposed budget for consideration by the Ministerial Council on Government Communications; and

• administrative costs are limited and committee members are only allowed travel expenses.3

The Special Minister of State

Senator Chris Ellison has responsibility for the conduct of the referendum by the Australian Electoral Commission and is the other ministerial member of the Referendum TaskForce. The Referendum Taskforce (RTF)

The RTF comprises the two ministerial members, staffmembers from the Prime Minister's office, the Attomey-General's office and the Special Minister ofState's office and officials from the Attorney-General's Department.4 The RTF is supported by a secretariat based in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. It is composed of officers from PMC and the Attorney-General's department, assisted by AEC officials. Its convenor is John Doherty.s

Contact: Mr J. Doherty, convenor, Referendum Taskforce, Department ofPrime Minister and Cabinet, 3-5 National Circuit, Barton, ACT, 2600. Freecall: 13 24 47; Telephone: (02) 6271 5564; Facsimile: (02) 6271 5566. Email: [email protected]

State Governments

While state governments have no formal role in the referendum .process several of them have conducted their own inquiries (WA in 1995; SA in 1996). All state premiers and opposition leaders and the territory chief ministers took part in the Constitutional Convention, where they adopted a range ofpositions in voting on the proposed models.

In 1999 several state leaders have declared their positions. Jim Bacon (Labor, Tasmania), Peter Beattie (Labor, QLD), Kate Carnell (Liberal, ACT), Bob Carr (Labor, NSW), (Liberal, Victoria) and John Olsen (Liberal, SA) support the YES case.s So do the Opposition leaders in Tasmania (Liberal) and Victoria, South Australia, ACT and NT (all Labor).

Richard Court (Liberal, WA) has reaffirmed his support for the NO case, but his deputy, Colin Barnett supports the YES case.9 The two Opposition leaders who support the NO case are Rob Borbidge (National, QLD) and (Liberal, NSW), although

36 Appendix 5: Governments andPolitical Parties

Ms Chikarovski declined to confirm this during the March 1999 NSW election campaign. 10

The Liberal Party

The Liberal Party reflects community divisions on the republic. It contains many declared monarchists, as well as the Prime Minister, including Cabinet ministers such as Dr and Senator Nick Minchin, who had carried responsibility for the Constitutional Convention, and ministers such as Bronwyn Bishop and . II Abbott has been the most outspoken monarchist and his address to the Queensland Young Liberals in January 1999, which described republicanism as 'a kind of national feel-good pill or constitutional Viagra, to be prescribed whether we need it or not', angered senior republicans in the party. 12

Republican Liberals on the frontbench include the Treasurer, Peter Costello, Environment Minister, Robert Hill, and Finance Minister, .

Peter Reith, Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business, supports a popularly elected president and has announced that he will vote NO at the referendum.

There are a number of Liberal backbenchers who have contributed to the public debate. The Liberal MP on the official YES team is Chris Gallus, MHR for Hindmarsh, South Australia. Senator (NSW) was once Deputy National Convenor of the ARM. Senator Amanda Vanstone, Minister for Justice, spoke at the National Convention of Republicans. Senator Alan Eggleston (yVA) has convened a group of parliamentary Liberals for the republic and has served as patron for the ARM in Western Australia.

The National Party

The National Party, led by the Deputy Prime Minister, Tim Fischer, formally supports the constitutional monarchy. 13 However, Fischer has stated that individual National Party MPs will be allowed a conscience vote.

Senator Ron Boswell, Leader of the National Party in the Senate, is a member of the official NO team. 14 The Australian Labor Party

The ALP formally supports a republic and since June 1991 has been committed to a republic by 1 January 2001. 15 The party is committed to campaigning for a YES vote at the referendum and Kim Beazley has restated this position on a number of occasions this year. 16 A preliminary discussion has been held at the ALP National Executive as to whether the party should declare the republic to be a conscience vote for MPs and party members. The NO case will include rank and file members such as Clem Jones, an ALP life member, and Constitutional Convention delegate Paul Tully.17

37 Appendix 5: Governments andPoliticalParties

The most prominent national Labor republicans are the Shadow Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and former Deputy Leader, Gareth Evans, who is a member of the official YES team, and who drafted Labor's contribution to the Preamble debate. Graham Edwards MHR (Cowan, WA) was an elected ARM delegate to the Constitutional Convention prior to his entry into parliament. The Australian Democrats

Senator Natasha Stott Despoja (SA), Deputy Leader of the Democrats, is the most prominent spokesperson for the official pro-republican position of the Democrats and supports the YES case. She was a parliamentary delegate to the Constitutional Convention, spoke at the National Convention of Republicans and is a member of the official YES team. The Democrats advocate greater public participation in the process of constitutional reform and wanted the Constitutional Convention to be a fully elected body.18

Senator Andrew Murray (WA) has expressed some disquiet at the official Democrats position and has claimed that a directly elected president would make the executive more accountable. 19

The party is currently balloting its members to elaborate its policy by adding specific items to its Constitutional Reform Policy on the question ofchoosing a Head ofState.20

The Greens

The Greens have not been prominent in the debate and were not represented among Commonwealth parliamentary delegates to the Constitutional Convention, although the delegates included Christine Milne, then Leader of the Greens in the Tasmanian parliament and an elected NSW delegate, Catherine Moore. They are, in general, direct election republicans. Greens (WA) senator, Dee Margetts was critical ofthe Constitutional Convention process. She supports a further constitutional convention 'preceded by extensive community consultation' if the referendum is successful and, if it is unsuccessful, she advocates aRlebiscite at the next federal election on the question 'Should Australia become a republic?' 1

Pauline Hanson's One Nation (PHON)

Like the Greens PHON was unrepresented among parliamentary delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the party has not played a prominent role in the debate. In general, because of its commitment to traditional British ties, PHON appears to support the NO case. Pauline Hanson declared her opposition to a republic for the first time in July 1998.22 Senator-elect Heather Hill has suggested that.she will be voting against the new preamble.23

38 Appendix 5: Governments and Political Parties

Endnotes

1. 'PM promises no republic meddling', The Age, 18 December 1998. 2. West Australian, 5 February 1999. 3. Australian Financial Review, 13 April 1999. 4. Senator Ellison, Hansard, 29 March 1999, pp. 3091-92. The members are Tony Nutt and Catherine Murphy (prime Minister's office), Nick Grono and Simone Burford (Attorney­ General's office) and Senator Ellison's Chief of Staff, Alastair Kinloch. They are being assisted by a number of officials including Henry Burmester, Chief General Counsel from Attorney General's, Robert Orr, Deputy General Counsel, Ian Govey and Sandra Power. 5. The other members of the secretariat are Jim Faulkner, Wendy Southern, Nicholas Schofield, David Lewis, and from Prime Minister and Cabinet Alan Henderson. The ABC officials have included Bill Gray, the Commissioner, and Paul Dacey. 6. Website: http://www.dpmc.gov.au/referendum

7. The Report ofthe Western Australian Constitutional Committee, Malcolm McCusker Q. C. (chair), January 1995; The South Australian Constitutional Advisory Council, First Report, South Australia and Proposals for an Australian Republic, September 1996 and The Distribution of power between the three levels of government in Australia, and The Importance ofEducation and Consultation in Constitutional Reform, December 1996, (Assoc. Prof. Peter Howell, Chair). 8. See Australian, 27 January 1999 (Olsen); Age, 28 January 1999 (Kennett); Canberra Times, 7 February 1999 (Carnell). 9. West Australian, 10 February 1999. 10. Sydney Morning Herald, 18 March 1999. II. For a representative Liberal monarchist position see R. Kemp 'Facing the Constitutional Debate' in K. Aldred, K. Andrews and P. Filing, eds, The Heart of Liberalism, The Albury papers, 1994, pp. 73-4. 12. M. Gordon, 'A fistful offaith' The Age, 3 April 1999. 13. Tim Fischer, General address, Report of the Constitutional Convention, vol. 3, pp. 247-50; John Anderson, General Address, Report ofthe Constitutional Convention, vol. 4, pp. 532-5. 14. R. Boswell, 'Constitutional "cage" should remain shut', Australian, 8 January 1999. 15. Australian Labor Party 1998, ALP Platform, pp. 139-40; see also Australian Labor Party 1994 Platform, Resolutions and Rules, pp. 58-9. 16. K. Beazley, 'Best Chance for Republic', Sydney Morning Herald, 26 January 1999; K. Beazley, 'Debate must transcend party allegiances', Australian, 26 January 1999; K. Beazley, Address to CEDA, Pathways to the Future: A Labor Vision, Melbourne, 16 March 1999. 17. Sydney Morning Herald, 23 Fe)Jruary 1999.

39 Appendix 5: Governments and Political Parties

18. Senator Stott Despoja, Referendum Legislation Amendment Bill 1999, Second Reading, Senate Hansard, 29 March 1999, pp. 3045-8. 19. A. Murray, 'Impeachable plan is anti-democratic', West Australian, 28 January 1999; 'Offer a choice on republic vote: Senator', West Australian, 13 January; A. Murray, 'A president by plebiscite or none at all', Australian, 30 December 1998. 20. See 'Draft Ballot'; A. Murray, 'The Case for direct election'; and B. Austen, 'A Case against direct election', Making Policy, A Supplement to the National Journal of the Australian Democrats, February 1999, pp. 2-4. 21. Senator Dee Margetts, 'Greens move to amend referendum bill', Media release, 24 March 1999. 22 'Hanson opposed to republic', Canberra Times, 23 July 1998. 23. Canberra Times, 10 March 1999.

40 Appendix 6: YES Community Organisations

Appendix 6: YES Community Organisations Australian Republican Movement (ARM)

The ARM is the main republican organisation. l It was founded on 7 July 1991, has branches in each state and territory, and maintains a secretariat in Sydney. It was the largest organised force at the 1998 Constitutional Convention and elected 27 delegates. Its national president is Malcolm Turnbull and its national campaign coordinator is former NSW Labor Premier, Neville Wran.

The elected ARM delegates were led by media personality Eddie McGuire (Vic), former Labor Attorney-General Michael Lavarch (Qld), businesswoman Janet Holmes Ii Court (WA), former Liberal Senator Baden Teague (SA), Julian Green (Tas), Anne Witheford (ACT) and Turnbull himself(NSW).

The ARM stands for the minimalist republican model and the Bipartisan Appointment of the President Model adopted by the Convention is a modified version of the ARM's preferred model that it brought to the convention.

Its chairman, Turnbull, has written:

There is only one fundamental issue in the republican debate: how long will Australia allow the highest office under its constitution, that ofthe monarch, the head-of-state, to be occupied by the kings and queens ofanother country, the United Kingdom?

The official YES committee includes four ARM members, Turnbull, Wran, Steve Vizard and Janet Holmes Ii Court.3

Conservatives for an Australian Head of State (CAHS)

CARS was formed by the former Federal Secretary ofthe Liberal Party, Andrew Robb, in January 1999.4 It is a group of 12 leading conservatives, which includes businessmen Robert Champion de Crespigny and Charles Goode and academics and Constitutional Convention delegates, Prof Judith Sloan and Prof Greg Craven. The others are former Liberal MPs, Paul Everingham, Warwick Smith and , and Paul Houlihan, Michael Lishman, Deane Russell and Fiona Smith.

Its aim is to persuade conservatives that the minimalist position is a safe model for a republic, safer than direct election, which Robb says 'would be an unmitigated disaster,.5 It plans to maintain its independence while working in collaboration with other republican orgariisations, such as ARM. It has raised some money and aims to share in public funding.

On 29 March 1999 the CAHS convenor, Andrew Robb, addressed the National Press Club. He outlined the CAHS position as follows:

41 Appendix 6: YES Community Organisations

[it] supports the minimal approach to the republic debate in only changing the head of state of Australia. We strongly oppose any attempt to undermine both State autonomy and the long-standing Parliamentary systems and conventions which currently apply. We support the outcome of the Constitutional Convention which appoints an Australian Head of State with no other changes to the way which we are govemed. We will urge a YES vote at the referendum. 6

One of its members, Craven, is on the official YES committee for the pre-referendum campaign.7 CAHS also has announced a group of Friends who support its position.8 The Friends include Doug Anthony, the former deputy prime minister and National Party leader, Don McGauchie, former president of the National Fanners Federation, and Rod McGeoch, chairman ofthe Committee ofSydney and a former member ofSOCOG.9 'YES' Coalition (YC)

YC is a loose-knit organisation ofall republican groups whose first manifestation emerged at the National Convention of Republicans (NCR), held in Canberra on 6-7 February 1999.10 The aim ofYC is to present a broad and united front of republicans-non-partisan and from all shades ofrepublican opinion. It includes prominent direct election advocates, who will support the YES case, such as Rev. Tim Costello, ACT Chief Minister Kate Carnell, Rev. Dorothy McRae McMahon and Senator Natasha Stott Despoja. 11

Following the NCR organised YCs emerged in most states and territories, beginning with the NSW YC which was launched on 18 February in Sydney.12 These coalitions are usually comprised of a small ARM core plus other high-profile figures. The NSW YES coalition includes former tennis star, John Newcombe and Constitutional Convention delegate, Jason Yat-Sen Li, who was the No 1. Senate candidate for the Unity Party at the October 1998 federal election. 13

Smaller Republican Groups

•A Just Republic stands for 'A Just republic, Not just a republic!' Its larger agenda includes a Bill of Rights, Prior Ownership, a Directly Elected President, and Ongoing Constitutional Reform, but on this occasion it supports a YES vote. In the elections for the Constitutional Convention it stood candidates in NSW (including Pat O'Shane and Dorothy McRae-McMahon), ACT and NT. 14

• Women for an Australian Republic is a 'virtual' group convened by Sarah Brasch. It argues for equal representation of women on all committees, short lists, etc. concerned with the election ofthe president 15

• Youth for an Australian Republic is a national organisation that also emphasises electronic communication amongst its members. Previously known as 'YES YOUTH' its representatives spoke at the National Convention of Republicans. In campaigning for a

42 Appendix 6: YES Community Organisations

YES vote its target is young people and its aim is to enliven constitutional debate with slogans such as 'Put the Pub back in Republic'.

• The Campaign for the Popular Election of the Australian President was set up in 1995 by the Republican Party of Australia, a tiny party led by Peter Consandine. It 'reluctantly' advocates a YES vote and is organising a 'write-on' campaign in which it advises its supporters to write P.E.P (popularly elected president) on their ballot papers,16,17

Endnotes

1. For further information see Australian Republican Movement Declaration by Republicans for a YES Vote for Australian Head of State', 25 January 1999; S. Vizard, Two Weeks in Lilliput, Penguin, 1998; M. Turnbull, The Reluctant Republic, William Hienemann Australia, 1993; T. Keneally, Our Republic, William Hienemann Australia, 1993; J. Hirst, A Republican Manifesto, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1994. 2. 'Addressing the Republic' in D. Headon, et al eds, Crown or Country. 3. Contact: Australian Republican Movement http://www.republic.org.au; Email: [email protected] PO Box A870 Sydney South NSW 1235 FreeCall1800 802000; Facsimile: (02) 9267 8155. 4. Australian, 25 January 1999. 5. ibid. 6. Frank Crews, 'Republic Debate Continues', Media release, National Press club, 8 March 1999; A. Robb, Convenor, Conservatives for an Australian Head of State, 'An Australian Head of State ... a small, yet symbolic step', Address to the National Press Club, 29 March 1999. 7. G. Craven, 'No room for two at the top', Australian, 5 February 1999; G. Craven, 'New setting for timeless jewel', Australian Financial Review, 3 March 1999; G. Craven, 'Safety First', The Review, 186, March 1999. 8. M. Grattan, 'Robb to become republic's 'YES' man', Sydney Morning Herald, 30 March 1999. 9. Contact: Conservatives for an Australian Head of State, GPO Box 3955, Sydney NSW 2001; Telephone (02) 9233 2156; Facsimile: (02) 9371 7820. 10. National Convention ofRepublicans, A Declaration, Canberra, 7 February 1999. II. See, for instance, T. Costello, 'Why, with doubts, I back this republic', The Age, 13 January 1999. 12. Australian Financial Review, 17 February 1999. 13. Contact: For the papers from the National Convention ofRepublicans see http://www.act.republic.org.au/ncr/

43 Appendix 6: YES Community Organisations

14. Contact: PO Box 3779, Manuka 2603, ACT. Email: [email protected] 15. See www.womenrep.dynamite.com.auContact: Email: [email protected] 16. Campaign for the Popular Election of the Australian President. 'Australian Republic: to be or not to be?', Summer 1999. 17. Contact National Secretariat: PO Box 843, Castle Hill, NSW, 1765; Ph. 02-9899 5590; Email: [email protected]; see www.hawknet.com.au/-ozrepublic

44 Appendix 7: NO Community Organisations

Appendix 7: NO Community Organisations Australians for Constitutional Monarchy

ACM is the main monarchist organisation.' Its first organisers were Lloyd Waddy, a leading Sydney lawyer, and , President of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of NSW. It was launched at a public meeting on 2 June 1992. Its Foundation Charter Council included: Sir Harry Gibbs, former Chief Justice of the High Court; Dame Leonie Kramer, Chancellor of Sydney University; Doug Sutherland, former (Labor) Lord Mayor of Sydney; Justice Michael Kirby, President of the NSW Court of Appeal (now High Court Justice); Sir John Atwill, former Federal president ofthe Liberal Party; former Senator, Neville Bonner; artist Margaret Olley; NSW MLC Helen Sham-Ho; Margaret Valadian; Gareth Grainger; Stephen Hall; Vahoi Naufahu; and Barry O'Keefe QC.2

It also maintains a secretariat in Sydney and has branches in each state and territory. Its first executive director, in June 1993, was Tony Abbott, now Liberal MHR for Warringah, NSW, and Minister for Employment Services in the Howard government. John Howard himselfspoke at one ofACM's early rallies and has always been a supporter.

It elected 19 delegates to the Constitutional Convention on a 'No Republic-ACM' ticket, including Doug Sutherland, NSW, the Hon. Don Chipp, Vic., the Hon. James Killen, QLD, The Rt Hon Reg Withers, WA, and Kym Bonython, SA. Other leading members, such as Lloyd Waddy and Sir David Smith, former Secretary to the Governor General, were among the appointed delegates.

Its main spokespersons, since March 1994, have been its convener, Lloyd Waddy, and its executive director, Kerry Jones. Waddy withdrew from active campaigning in June 1998, when he was appointed a judge of the Family Court. Jones, Smith and Councillor Julian Leeser are among the members ofthe official NO committee.

Its position is support for the constitutional monarchy and opposition to an Australian republic. The ACM

focuses on the defects in the various models ofrepublics as alternatives to our current working system of government; the problems with each of the methods advanced for appointing and dismissing a president, exposing the powers a president would have, and the dangers inherent in replacing the Governor-General as our non-political Head of State, which only the Crown can ensure, with a powerful political president,.3

Sir David Smith has been a consistent public advocate of the status quo, debating Australian constitutional history (especially in regard to the 1975 constitutional crisis) and taking issue with Sir Anthony Mason on constitutional matters. He has argued the case, in particular, for the independent role of the Governor-General as the Australian Head of 4 State. ,5

45 Appendix 7: NO Community Organisations

Real Republicans (RR)

RR is the name appropriated early in 1999 by those direct election republicans committed to supporting the NO case (the name was originally used by the ticket that elected Constitutional Convention delegates Tim Costello and Moira Rayner in Victoria). Now it is the name for an organisation created by Phil Cleary (Victoria), Clem Jones (Queensland) and Ted Mack (NSW) who were among those direct election republicans that had earlier joined forces as delegates at Constitutional Convention.6 Bill Hayden has indicated that he will support the RR campaign. 7

RR supports various models for direct election of the president. Mack favours a US-style presidency, Jones a president with executive powers, and Cleary favours an Irish-style president with only 'cultural, symbolic and moral' authority.8 They argue that defeat ofthe YES case is necessary to enable the later passage of a referendum for a popularly elected president.9

Jones and Mack are members of the committee to run the NO campaign prior to the referendum. met publicly with Ted Mack to offer his support and has indicated his intention to campaign against the referendum in November. 10 Returned Services League (RSL)

The RSL has been the most determined opponent ofany move towards a republic. For the League, Australian national identity is inseparable from the British connection and the monarchy. As the League's historians have written ofits values as imperial loyalists: 'The links with Britain and the symbols of loyalty-monarchy, flag, and anthem-are to be defended and sustained'. II Consequently one of its standing policies has been 'That any move to change Australia into a republic be opposed.I2 RSL leaders have consistently put this position publicly and identified themselves as monarchists. At the Constitutional Convention there were three RSL voices, all of them monarchists. There were two past National presidents, Major General James, one of the appointed delegates, and Brigadier Alf Garland, an elected member (Australian Monarchist League, Victoria) as well as the present Victorian state president, Bruce Ruxton.

Endnotes

1. For further information see G. Grainger and K. Jones, eds, The Australian Constitutional Monarchy, 1994; K. Jones, The works: why mess with it?', Australian, 28 January 1999; K. Jones, The ACMHandbook: Key Facts and Opinions for the Republic Debate in Australia, ACM Publishing, 1996; The Australian Constitution: Essential Documents in Australian Constitutional History to be read in conjunction with the 'ACM Handbook: ACM Publishing, 1997; T. Abbott, The Minimal Monarchy: and why it still makes sense for Australia,

46 Appendix 7: NO Community Organisations

Wakefield Press, 1995; T. Abbott; How to Win the Constitutional War and give both sides what they want; Australians for Constitutional Monarchy and Wakefield Press, 1997. 2. The ACM Handbook,op. cit., pp. 4-5. 3. The ACM Handbook, p. 2. 4. Sir David Smith, 'The head of state', in G. Winterton, ed., We, The People, op. cit., pp. 152­ 65; 'The G-G is not a delegate ofthe Queen', Letter to the Editor, Canberra Times, 16 January 1999; 'An Open Letter to the Attorney-General', Press Release, 5 January 1999. 5. Contact: Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, GPO Box 9841, Sydney, NSW, 2001. Telephone: (02) 9231 2200 or FreeCall: 1800622229. Facsimile: (02) 9231 2359. 6. S. Jackson, 'Rebels in the Ranks', Australian, 16 January 199? 7. C. Dore, 'Hayden will back rebel republic campaign', Australian, 8 January 1999. 8. Australian, 23 January 1999. 9. T. Mack, 'Giving power to the People', Sydney Morning Herald, 24 December 1998; T. Mack, 'Undue haste could undermine a unique opportunity', Australian, 27 January 1999; T. Mack, 'Democratic ideal transcends minority fascist smear', Australian, 23 February 1999; P. Cleary, 'The end ofthe republic', TheAge, 8 January 1999. 10. L. Wright, 'Reith sticks with directly elected president', Canberra Times, 14 March 1999. 11. P. Sekuless and J. Rees, Lest We Forget: The History ofthe Returned Services League, 1916­ 1986, Rigby, 1986, p. 6. 12. Returned Services League RSL Handbook:75th Anniversary Issue 1991, Sydney, 1991, 17.18, p.150.

47 Appendix 8: The YES and NO Campaign Organisations

Appendix 8: The YES and NO Campaign Organisations The YES campaign committee

The YES Committee, appointed by the government to manage the $7.5 million government-funded campaign, has announced the appointment of a campaign committee. Its composition, which goes beyond Constitutional Convention delegates is Malcolm Turnbull (chair), Peter Barron, former political adviser to Bob Hawke, and Neville Wran, (deputy chair), Andrew Robb, and Karin Sowada, ARM Constitutional Convention delegate and former Australian Democrats senator for NSW. 1

The national campaign director is Greg Barns, who will leave his position as chief ofstaff ofJohn Fahey, the Minister for Finance, from the end ofMay.2 Public opinion polling will be the responsibility of Liberal Party pollster, Mark Textor, while the advertising campaign is likely to be the responsibility of John Singleton, who has in the past worked on Labor party election campaigns.3

Overall this membership is notably bipartisan and cross-group, but with strong ARM representation. It also represents considerable political expertise drawn from high-level participation in recent national election campaigns.

The NO campaign committee

The NO campaign committee, about which less is known at the time ofwriting, is chaired by the ACM's Kerry Jones.4 Its campaign director is David Elliott, former press secretary to former NSW Liberal leader Peter Collins and previously research officer to John Howard and Bronwyn Bishop.5

Endnotes

1. Australian Financial Review, 12 April 1999; Sydney Morning Herald, 13 April 1999. 2. Sydney Morning Herald, 13 April 1999. 3. Australian, 30 March 1999; Senator John Faulkner has been critical ofTextor's appointment on the grounds that it was 'inappropriate' for pollsters on either side of party politics to be involved, Sydney Morning Herald, 1 April 1999. 4. Sydney Morning Herald, 13 April 1999. 5. M. Grattan, 'Collins staffer for NO vote', Sydney Morning Herald, I April 1999. This report suggests that Elliott has been appointed the ACM's national campaign director. The distinction between the two is unclear as yet.

49 Appendix 9: Educational Organisations

Appendix 9: Educational Organisations Constitutional Centenary Foundation (CCF)

The CCF is an independent but (Commonwealth and state) government-sponsored organisation committed to public education on constitutional questions.] Founded after a Constitutional Centenary Conference in April 1991 it maintains a secretariat in Melbourne and has close links with Professor Cheryl Saunders' Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies at Melbourne University. Saunders is deputy chair and the driving force. CCF's current chair is the ABC chair, Donald McDonald, who replaced Sir Ninian Stephen early in 1998.

The CCF is strictly neutral and non-partisan. It produces educational materials, such as an annotated constitution,2 and conducts public forums and historical re-enactments. It pioneered the idea ofmodern constitutional conventions. As well as floating the idea of a people's convention, prior to its adoption by the Liberal Party, it has sponsored and conducted schools conventions for a number ofyears and local constitutional conventions around Australia in 1997-98.

In 1998 it conducted a competition to design a new Preamble, and launched its ideas at the National Press Club on 24 February 1999.3 The CCF's report was later presented to the Prime Minister.4

Issues Deliberation Australia (IDA)

IDA is an organisation, established to facilitate public consultation and debate about major political issues, that will conduct a Deliberative Poll on the referendum issue in Canberra on 22-24 October. It was founded by Dr Pam Ryan, an Adelaide academic with over 13 years experience working at the University ofTexas with Dr James Fishkin, the originator ofthe idea ofdeliberative polling.

This event, Australia Deliberates: A Republic. Yes or No?, will involve a random sample of about 300 Australian citizens who will spend a weekend discussing the issues with each other, experts and political leaders. Their opinions will be surveyed before and after to see what impact the discussion has had. The event has the support ofboth the YES and NO organisations, will be televised by the ABC, and is also supported by The Australian newspaper and the Australian National University.5,6

Endnotes

1. J. Warhurst, 'The Constitutional Centenary Foundation and the politics of constitutional reform', Australian Quarterly, vol. 67, no. 3, Spring 1995, pp. 40-51.

51 Appendix 9: Educational Organisations

2. The Australian Constitution, Annotated text by Cheryl Saunders, Constitutional Centenary Foundation, Melbourne, 1997. 3. Constitutional Centenary Foundation, 'We the people of Australia '" Ideas for a new preamble to the Australian Constitution', CCF, February 1999. 4. Contact: Constitutional Centenary Foundation, Level 2-723 Swanston St, Carlton, Victoria; 3053, Telephone: (03)-9349 1846 Facsimile: (03) 9349 1779 Email: [email protected] Site: http://www.centenary.org.au 5. Issues Deliberation Australia, News Conference, NSW Parliament House Press Gallery, 2 May 1999; M. Steketee 'Educated guests welcome the debate', Australian, 3 May 1999; G. Greene, 'Forum may point way to a republic', Age, 4 May 1999. 6. Contact: Pam Ryan: Ph: 08 8295 6112/0414295611; Email: [email protected] Issues Deliberation Australia, 28 South Esplanade, P.O. Box 19, Glenelg, SA, 5045.

52 Appendix 10: Some Additional Public Figures

Appendix 10: Some Additional Public Figures

There have been a number of important contributions to the debate from persons not aligned to a particular community organisation. They include:

• Professor Alan Atkinson, ofthe Department ofHistory at the University ofNew England, is the author of The Muddle-Headed Republic (1993), which stresses the distinctive Australian character ofthe monarchy.l

• Dr Mark McKenna, .author of The Captive Republic (1996), has been a significant advocate ofthe YES case in newspaper articles and public addresses.2 He has contributed to the debate about the Preamble and his contribution was one of those chosen by the CCF's Preamble Quest? He is a member ofthe Political Science Program at the Research School ofSocial Sciences, Australian National University.

• Sir Anthony Mason, formerly Chief Justice ofthe High Court, joined with McKenna and four leading legal scholars to propose to the Attorney-General a model for the public nomination process.4 He is a Visiting National Fellow at the Law School, Australian National University.

• Mr , the distinguished poet, was asked by the Prime Minister to assist him in drafting the preamble. Murray has long been a republican and was a contributor to G. Dutton ed, AnAustralian Republic? (1977).5

• Dr Jocelynne Scutt, feminist barrister, is a direct election republican who has not joined the Real Republicans. Rather, under the banner of Real Republicans, she advocates writing 'YES to a directly elected president' on the ballot paper.6

• Rt Hon. Ian Sinclair, former Speaker ofthe House ofRepresentatives and former Leader of the National Party, has spoken in favour of the republic.7 He subsequently agreed to chair the National Convention ofRepublicans in February 1999.

• Mr David Solomon, political and legal commentator, has advocated a directly elected, US style president for almost twenty-five years, since he wrote Elect the Governor-General!8

• Professor George Winterton, Professor ofLaw at the University ofNew South Wales, was an appointed delegate to Constitutional Convention. He is the author ofthe classic text on Australian republican government, Monarchy to Republic: Australian Republican Government (1986).9

Endnotes

1. Oxford University Press, 1993.

53 Appendix 10: Some Additional Public Figures

2. E. G. M. McKenna, 'How the PM hijacked the soul ofthe republic', The Age, 11 March 1999; 'Rhetoric obscures wisdom ofbipartisan model', Australian, 20 January 1999. 3. CCF, 'We the people ofAustralia', p. 15. 4. M. McKenna, Sir Anthony Mason, A. Stone, G. Williams, J. Williams and G. Winterton, 'President must be the people's choice', Australian, 16 December 1998; M. McKenna, 'Picking a chief: chapter and verse', Canberra Times, 26 December 1998. 5. L. Murray, 'The Flag Rave', in G. Dutton, ed., Republican Australia?, op. cit., pp. 106-19. 6. S. Powell, 'Ms Republic', Australian, 10 March 1999. 7. 'Sinclair prods PM over the Republic', Sydney Morning Herald, 24 December 1998. 8. D. Solomon, Elect the Governor-General!, Nelson, 1976; Coming of Age, University of Queensland Press, 1998. 9. Oxford University Press, 1986; Reprinted with a new introduction, Oxford University Press, 1994.

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