Fed: Four years before another republic vote - ARM

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2001
Fed: Four years before another republic vote - ARM

CANBERRA, Dec 3 AAP - It would be at least four years before Australians would have
another chance to vote for a republic, Australian Republican Movement (ARM) chairman Greg
Barns said today.

Mr Barns said Prime Minister John Howard, a staunch monarchist, would ensure no referendum
or plebiscite was held while he remained in office.

But he said the next few years should be spent discussing the issue.

The People's Convention, held in the NSW town of Corowa on the Murray River yesterday,
backed the creation of a parliamentary committee to get the campaign for a republic back
on track.

The committee was charged with coming up with a series of questions that would go to
Australian voters.

"Any vote being put to the Australian people, whether it be a plebiscite or whether
it be a referendum, the realistic time frame is probably four years," Mr Barns told ABC
radio.

"The reason I say that is that John Howard as prime minister will not put a plebiscite
or referendum.

"That, however, does not stop the further examination of discussion of the issue, for
example, through one of the Senate reference committees going around Australia talking
to people about the republic."

The five-part motion passed by the convention yesterday, calls for a multi-party parliamentary
committee to look at a series of questions surrounding the republic issue.

It wants the committee to look at whether people wanted an Australian head of state,
whether they were comfortable with the title president or governor-general and the way
in which a new head of state would be chosen.

The convention was held in Corowa because the town was home to a convention in 1893
that restarted the federation campaign.

"Just as in 1893 the Corowa meeting had no official status but kick-started federation,"

Mr Barns said.

"Those of us who have been involved in Corowa will be hoping now that it does build
some momentum back into the republic issue."

Mr Barns said another push for Australia to become a republic would require compromise
by all involved in the debate.

AAP sm/ph/sb

KEYWORD: REPUBLIC SECOND DAYLEAD

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