FED: Republic surge in polls prompts new monarchist assault

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-1999
FED: Republic surge in polls prompts new monarchist assault

By Stephen Spencer

CANBERRA, Aug 17 AAP - A surge in support for the republic following the finalisation of
November's referendum heartened republicans today and prompted opponents to launch a new
assault spearheaded by former governor-general Bill Hayden.

Two separate polls today showed support for the referendum had climbed to 46 per cent after
the Queen was added to the referendum question.

Opposition has fallen to 40-42 per cent.

Australian Republic Movement (ARM) spokesman Wayne Burns said it showed how crucial the
wording of the republic question was.

"It does prove that while people thought it was pedantic and ridiculous, the words are
important," he told AAP.

"The trend is upwards, our own research is definitely showing that as well.

"We know this is eminently winnable."

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley predicted support for a republic would continue to grow now
Treasurer Peter Costello was officially backing the yes case.

"That has certainly enhanced the bipartisan environment in which the republican cause is
being put," he said.

But with republicans still short of an outright majority in every state in the AC Nielsen
and Newspoll surveys, Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy head Kerry Jones said the real
battle had only just begun.

"Australians are screaming out for information," she told AAP.

"This will be battle about who will get their information out and we are determined to win
that battle."

Monarchists will unveil one of their big guns tomorrow when former Labor leader and
ex-governor-general Bill Hayden officially lends his support to the no case.

Mr Hayden will denounce the republic model as a half-baked constitutional mess that would
hamper Australia's system of government for generations.

Although his views are no surprise, monarchists hope Mr Hayden's decision to take a
prominent role in the campaign will help reinforce their message that the republic is too
great a risk.

However conservative republicans said the real threat to Australia came not from a
republic, but from a No vote.

"Failure to make the change in November would see people being subjected to a sour and
bitter debate for years to come," conservative republican leader Andrew Robb told a Business
Council forum on the republic.

"And voting No in November runs the great risk of seeing a radical model for a republic
gaining support at some future referendum, leading to a directly elected president and a
corresponding dramatic change to the way in which we are governed."

One of the people opposing the referendum with just that aim in mind, former MP Ted Mack,
today accused MPs of quietly changing the republic model to remove the ban on politicians
becoming president.

"The politicians have proved, yet again, they cannot be trusted," he said in a statement.

While politicians will no longer have to resign before putting their name forward, they
still have to quit politics before they can be approved as president by the parliament.

AAP ss/ah/br

KEYWORD: REPUBLIC NIGHTLEAD

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