https://padlet.com/damarlav/xrv7i6z8bo3q Varun Damarla en-us 2019-04-05 11:51:22 UTC 2026-03-06 19:57:27 UTC hello@padlet.com damarlav https://padlet.com/damarlav/xrv7i6z8bo3q/wish/350205775 The Australian republic referendum held on 6 November 1999 was a two-question referendum to amend the Constitution of Australia.  The first question asked whether Australia should become a republic with a President appointed by Parliament.  The second question asked whether Australia should alter the Constitution to insert a preamble.

Even though for some years opinion polls suggested that a majority of the electorate favored a republic, the referendum for a republic was nonetheless defeated due to division among republicans on the method proposed for selection of the president and dissident republicans subsequently going against the referendum itself.]]> 2019-04-10 03:06:55 UTC https://padlet.com/damarlav/xrv7i6z8bo3q/wish/350205775 damarlav https://padlet.com/damarlav/xrv7i6z8bo3q/wish/350209126 2019-04-10 03:28:55 UTC https://padlet.com/damarlav/xrv7i6z8bo3q/wish/350209126 damarlav https://padlet.com/damarlav/xrv7i6z8bo3q/wish/350209314 Australia is a constitutional monarchy.  The idea of republicanism has persisted in Australia since the colonial times, though for much of the 20th century, the monarchy remained popular.  In the early 1990s, however, republicanism became a significant political issue.  Former President Paul Keating indicated a desire to instigate a republic in time for the Centenary of the Federation of Australia in 2001.  His opponents, the Liberal-National Coalition, who were less supportive of the plan for a republic, promised to convene a Constitutional Convention to discuss the issue.  Under John Howard, the Coalition won the 1996 Federal Election and set the Convention date for February 1998.

The 1998 Australian Constitutional Convention debated the need for a change to the Constitution of Australia which would remove the monarchy from a role in Australian government and law.  The convention considered three categories of model for the selection of the head of state in an Australian republic: direct election, parliamentary election by a special majority, and appointment by a special council following prime ministerial nomination.

"In principle" agreement was reached by a majority of delegates for an Australian Republic. Following a series of votes, a proposal for a "Bipartisan Appointment of the President Model" for an Australian republic was endorsed by a majority of delegates who voted for or against the motion. The Convention recommended to Former Prime Minister Howard and the Parliament of Australia that the model, and other related changes to the Constitution that are supported by the convention, be put to the people in a constitutional referendum.]]> 2019-04-10 03:30:20 UTC https://padlet.com/damarlav/xrv7i6z8bo3q/wish/350209314 damarlav https://padlet.com/damarlav/xrv7i6z8bo3q/wish/350210592 The 'Yes' Side
The "yes" campaign was headed by Malcolm Turnbull.  It was divided in detail but nevertheless managed to present a fairly united and coherent message and was notable for unlikely alliances between traditional opponents – former Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and former Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser gave joint statements, for example. Many other prominent Australians also endorsed the yes vote, which then led to claims that the movement was "elitist" in sentiment and supported by politicians rather than the public at large. Viewing the case for a republic as fairly self-evident and broadly supported by the Australian populace, their advertising concentrated mainly on the positive symbolism of the republican case.

The 'No' Side
The organised "no" campaign was a mixture of monarchist groups. Additionally it included some republican groups who did not feel that the proposed model was satisfactory, in particular they thought the people should elect the President. Headed by Kerry Jones, the "no" campaign concentrated on the perceived flaws of the model on offer, considering those who supported the "yes" push as "elites", and skilfully managing to appeal both to those apprehensive about the change on one hand, and those feeling the model didn't go far enough on the other. Their advertising emphasised voting no to "this republic", implying to direct-election supporters that a model more to their preferences was likely to be put in the future.]]> 2019-04-10 03:42:13 UTC https://padlet.com/damarlav/xrv7i6z8bo3q/wish/350210592