Frequently asked questions
Below are just a few of the most common questions asked about efforts to establish an Australia republic. There are more in our FAQ information booklet.
Isn’t the republic campaign just a hobby-horse of the “elites” in our society? What’s in it for average Australians?
Australians of all ages and all walks of life rightly want to know how a republic will bring meaningful change and benefits to our nation.
This is not about empty symbolism.
In the 21st Century it should be unthinkable that under our current Constitution the Head of State of Australia is not — and cannot be — an Australian.
The situation is especially untenable when you consider that means no Australians with First Nations’ heritage can become our Head of State.
We need to stand on our own two feet and elect our own Head of State.
The other constitutional reforms we advocate would see greater accountability and integrity at the federal level, a greater role for our Head of State in promoting our nation on the world stage and generating trade and investment, and other real reforms to cut the costs of running our political system as well as reduce the number of politicians on the public payroll.
Wasn’t the issue settled in 1999 when Australians voted down a proposal to become a republic?
At a referendum Australian voters cast a vote “yes” or “no” to a question asking if they approve of a proposed law to alter the Constitution.
On Saturday 6 November 1999 voters were asked if they approved of:
“A proposed law: To alter the Constitution to establish the Commonwealth of Australia as a republic with the Queen and Governor-General being replaced by a President appointed by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Commonwealth Parliament.”
They were also asked to pass judgement on a proposed preamble to the Constitution recognising Indigenous Australians.
Neither question succeeded.
The republic question represented a model for a republic that was debated at the Constitutional Convention held in Canberra in 1998 consisting of appointed and elected representatives.
But that model was a “politicians’ republic” and did not allow for Australians to vote for a Head of State.
We believe Australians want to say who is their Head of State.
There is no reason not to debate the republic issue again and to seek a referendum to implement a model acceptable to Australians.
Will a referendum on the republic question be passed next time there is a vote?
We don’t believe it’s anywhere near a foregone conclusion.
Although Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated a republic referendum could be held in the second term of his government, if it is re-elected, the issue needs to be discussed well beforehand if voters are to have sufficient information available to them that makes them sufficiently comfortable to support a change.
So we need to start talking about a republic and other reforms now, not later.
It is critical to note that of the 44 referendum questions put to Australian voters since 1901, only eight have succeeded in securing a “yes” vote.
The bar for constitutional change is set high. Any referendum question needs what’s called a “double majority” for a “yes” vote to be successful.
That means any referendum question must not only secure a majority of “yes” votes nationwide (including the two territories), it must also secure a majority of “yes” votes in a majority of the states (excluding the two territories).
The 1999 referendum failed on those criteria.
We advocate for a non-binding national plebiscite to be held posing two questions to voters: first, do they want a republic, and second, what model from a range of options do they prefer.
It is vital that both questions are asked at the same time otherwise voters will be in the dark about what is proposed and will vote against a republic if they don’t know what it entails.
The plebiscite should be used to determine a model that could then proceed to a referendum.
By taking that approach the model voted on will belong to the Australian people, not to any individual or pro-republic group and it will have the best chance of success.
Isn’t the push for a republic just an expression of anti-royalist sentiment?
We have great respect for the Royal Family — especially Queen Elizabeth II who is truly one of the world’s great historical figures of all time.
That respect will not diminish when we become a republic.
The republic debate must never be a negative campaign against the Queen or the royal family.
It must always be a positive debate about us and our nation’s future.
The Royal Family would always be respected by Australians and would always be welcome here to visit, just as they do in republics around the world including those like India that are Commonwealth countries.
Our respect remains and will remain as a republic.
How would someone be selected or nominated to run and who foots the campaign bill?
The Real Republic Australia will be releasing a discussion paper in coming months on our model for a directly elected Head of State.
It outlines our proposals and ways to achieve them.
In simple terms, it imposes a set of strict criteria to ensure integrity and transparency in the process for selecting our Head of State.
It also details codified powers for a Head of State to ensure they will never be a rival source of power to any Australian prime minister heading the nation’s executive government.
Similarly we favour strict limits and rules for campaign activities and we would support a cap on campaign spending.
We also believe that campaigning should be limited in scope, possibly publicly funded to avoid anyone “buying” their way into the job.
Get in touch if you want to read and respond to pour discussion paper or find it on this site.
Aren’t there more important issues facing our nation that we should discuss and decide at the moment, instead of debating the republic question?
This type of argument is just a delaying tactic.
Australians can handle more than one issue at a time.
We saw in the same-sex marriage debate how easily it was resolved once the views of the nation were known.
The sky hasn’t fallen in, the sun still rises.
The same will happen once we become a republic.
Let’s get it done.