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Labor will put Australian republic to vote in first term if it wins next election Labor will put Australian republic to vote in first term if it wins next election
(11 days later)
Bill Shorten uses speech to republican movement to argue Australia should not wait for a change of monarch to activate the debate
Katharine Murphy Political editor
Fri 28 Jul 2017 12.49 BST
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Bill Shorten says Labor will activate the process towards Australia becoming a republic if he wins the next election, and put a question to the voters by the end of his first term in office.Bill Shorten says Labor will activate the process towards Australia becoming a republic if he wins the next election, and put a question to the voters by the end of his first term in office.
The Labor leader will use a speech to the Australian Republican Movement to lay out a concrete timetable for a referendum, and argue Australia should not wait for a change of monarch to activate the debate.The Labor leader will use a speech to the Australian Republican Movement to lay out a concrete timetable for a referendum, and argue Australia should not wait for a change of monarch to activate the debate.
Shorten will pledge to make a member of a newly elected Labor ministry responsible for advancing the republican push post election, “and – by the end of our first term – we will put a simple, straightforward question to the people of Australia”.Shorten will pledge to make a member of a newly elected Labor ministry responsible for advancing the republican push post election, “and – by the end of our first term – we will put a simple, straightforward question to the people of Australia”.
“Do you support an Australian republic with an Australian head of state?”“Do you support an Australian republic with an Australian head of state?”
Shorten will argue if a yes vote prevails, then there can be a secondary argument about how the new head of state is chosen.Shorten will argue if a yes vote prevails, then there can be a secondary argument about how the new head of state is chosen.
He will tell the republican movement they cannot repeat the mistakes of the 1999 referendum, and give Australians one vote in order to settle two questions.He will tell the republican movement they cannot repeat the mistakes of the 1999 referendum, and give Australians one vote in order to settle two questions.
Shorten will argue that a lot of people voted no at the last referendum because they did not like the model, not because they opposed being a republic.Shorten will argue that a lot of people voted no at the last referendum because they did not like the model, not because they opposed being a republic.
“The first, clear question we ask the people should be whether we want an Australian head of state”.“The first, clear question we ask the people should be whether we want an Australian head of state”.
The Labor leader will say it is entirely possible for Australians to vote for a republic and still respect Queen Elizabeth.The Labor leader will say it is entirely possible for Australians to vote for a republic and still respect Queen Elizabeth.
“We can vote for a republic and still win gold medals at the Commonwealth games. We can vote for a republic and recognise that Will and Kate have two seriously cute kids,” Shorten will say.“We can vote for a republic and still win gold medals at the Commonwealth games. We can vote for a republic and recognise that Will and Kate have two seriously cute kids,” Shorten will say.
“We can vote for a republic and still binge-watch The Crown on Netflix. And we can vote for a republic without derailing the business of government, or the priorities of this nation.”“We can vote for a republic and still binge-watch The Crown on Netflix. And we can vote for a republic without derailing the business of government, or the priorities of this nation.”
Malcolm Turnbull – a former leading light in the push for Australia to become a republic in 1999 – is now of the view Australia should not proceed down that path while while Queen Elizabeth is on the throne.Malcolm Turnbull – a former leading light in the push for Australia to become a republic in 1999 – is now of the view Australia should not proceed down that path while while Queen Elizabeth is on the throne.
He now characterises himself as an “Elizabethan”.He now characterises himself as an “Elizabethan”.
Last December the prime minister called for a national plebiscite to decide whether to propose an Australian republic with a directly elected or appointed president, arguing this approach would help build public ownership of the debate.Last December the prime minister called for a national plebiscite to decide whether to propose an Australian republic with a directly elected or appointed president, arguing this approach would help build public ownership of the debate.
Shorten will argue in his speech it is incongruous for the government to promote a citizenship debate heavy on “Australian values” when our system is geared towards an allegiance to Britain.Shorten will argue in his speech it is incongruous for the government to promote a citizenship debate heavy on “Australian values” when our system is geared towards an allegiance to Britain.
“Last month, the prime minister demanded that new migrants join us as patriots. He and the minister for immigration have repeatedly flagged tougher tests, so migrants sign-up to Australian values.“Last month, the prime minister demanded that new migrants join us as patriots. He and the minister for immigration have repeatedly flagged tougher tests, so migrants sign-up to Australian values.
“Yet, fond as they may be, the British monarch can hardly be an Australian patriot, or even a loyal citizen, and will never sign up to our so-called values.“Yet, fond as they may be, the British monarch can hardly be an Australian patriot, or even a loyal citizen, and will never sign up to our so-called values.
“On the contrary, our allegiance implies that we have signed up to theirs.”“On the contrary, our allegiance implies that we have signed up to theirs.”
RepublicanismRepublicanism
MonarchyMonarchy
The QueenThe Queen
Bill ShortenBill Shorten
Malcolm TurnbullMalcolm Turnbull
Australian politicsAustralian politics
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