Republic plebiscite on Labor agenda

AUSTRALIA’S Republic Movement believes appetite for a change in head of state will only continue to grow following plans for a national plebiscite.

Director Michael Cooney has called Labor’s intentions to put $160 million towards a plebiscite on the issue, if it wins government, as a “huge step forward”.

Mr Cooney said Australians needed to have a voice about the head of state.

“No one thinks Australians have enough say over our future,” he said yesterday. “Everyone knows that something isn’t quite working, not only in politics, but maybe more broadly in our society.

“Part of the reason for that is we don’t have someone above politics, we don’t have an institution that could unite us, like a head of state could.”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has approved the funding plan for a public ballot, rather than a postal vote, if Labor wins the next election.

But Labor spokesman for an Australian head of state Matt Thistlethwaite concedes a plebiscite is probably not a top priority for most Australians.

“(But) we are saying that if we are elected, it’s one of the issues that Labor will attempt to deal with during our first term,” Mr Thistlethwaite said.

Last month, an independent survey of 1000 Australians commissioned by ARM found 52.4 per cent wanted a republic.

Mr Cooney said it would be valuable to also ask Australians how the head of state should be chosen — by the people or the parliament.

Real Republic chairman David Muir has expressed his reservations about the plan, saying it is vital the public were given an option to decide on the voting model.

“Ask voters to express their views on the republic question itself and a preferred model at the same time,” Mr Muir said.

“So far Scott Morrison hasn’t given any inkling of how he intends to give Australians their say on a republic.”