To Flora.mai-not Newsgroup, 2 November, 1999

Oz Laborites' panic over republic No vote

By Brian Jenkins

The coming weekend will bring not only the World Cup rugby clash between Australia and France but also an opportunity for Oz anglophobes to kick out their Queen and let her powers default to executive government.

Australia's proposed anti-Westminster constitutional change which goes to a referendum on Saturday has been presented by corporate supporters as a "minimalist" move in the direction of nationalistic pride. The main talking points over suburban barbecues have been (a) the politicians' refusal to let anyone but themselves choose the proposed president; and (b) whether some dreadful quirk of fate could bring King Charles III and Roman Catholic Queen Camilla to preside over the Sydney Olympic Games in the former penal colony.

Far from being a salutary unifying event, the republic debate has festered into an orgy of division between protagonists on both sides, a situation which has historically resulted in defeat for most previous Australian referendum propositions. To succeed, a referendum needs an overall majority and to be carried in a majority of the six States.

The only real certainty is that the Olympic Games will be opened by an all-powerful prime minister while the head of state and working classes switch on the TV to watch.

Since the sole option on the ballot paper is for a corporate (and not a people's) 'republic', a very large number of passionate republicans feel obliged to vote No to it. In this context, the Labor opposition leader Mr Kim Beazley has desperately promised the people a second referendum (for a people-elected president) if they vote Yes to the present one. Any similarity between this debate and a Laurel and Hardy movie is purely coincidental! The following is the latest statement from Prime Minister Stan . . .er, John Howard.

[3 November, 1999. Press release from Prime Minister Howard]

"CARR UNDERCUTS BEAZLEY ON REPUBLIC

"The New South Wales Labor Premier Bob Carr has completely undercut [federal opposition leader] Kim Beazley’s promise to hold a second referendum for a directly elected president if the Yes vote wins next Saturday.

"Mr Carr, the most senior and successful Labor leader in the country, has flatly opposed any suggestion of a directly elected presidency.

"In the process he has exposed Mr Beazley’s humbug.

"His strong opposition reinforces the point that if the Yes vote wins on Saturday there will be no second bite of the republican cherry.  The parliamentary appointment model will be there for good.

"Mr Beazley’s panicky opportunism has been starkly revealed by the NSW Premier’s stance.

"The promise of “Yes and more” injected into the debate at the eleventh hour is a complete illusion.  If the Yes vote wins on Saturday there will be overwhelming opposition within all political parties to any move toward a directly elected president.

"Bob Carr has had the courage to call it as it is."