The No Republic of Australia

Five years (and one day, now) from the Republic Referendum, and we are still a long way from achieving what looked so achievable at the time. Public sentiment on the issue has not changed significantly since the vote - at the time the majority were overwhelmingly republican, just as they are now. It was not the monarchy which prevailed in '99 - it was a fear campaign which beat a solid model.

It's worth asking a question or two of the Direct Election brigade (we're looking at you, Phil) who teamed up with the Monarchists to run the scare campaign:

- When is this mysterious 'second chance' going to come about? You know, the chance to vote again on the republic with a different model if we didn't like the first one. The Direct Election people thought they were sitting beside a sushi train of constitutional reform. They rejected the Parliamentry Model Sushimi because they were waiting for the Direct Election Tempura, only to end up with a big mouthful of Monarchist Wasabi.
- How has the push for a republic been furthered by the successful No vote?
- What the hell were you guys thinking??

Phil and Gerry - God Save Our Gracious Queen

Just what would Gerry Adams think of his No-voting republican friend Phil Cleary?

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hi Ari,

I was disapointed to see the 99 referendum defeated. I'd like to see Australia become a republic and thought that the model on offer was very good.

I'm not so sure that I would vote in favour of a direct election model if it ever is offered, though. I think people don't realise what a potentially major change it could be to our political system. Like what happens when the indirectly elected Prime Minister disagrees with the directly elected President? I wouldn't be so sure that the President would remain a figurehead.

What are your thoughts on this Ari? Would you support a direct election model or vote against it?

Simon
7 November 2004 at 13:21
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