Talk of an Australian Republic is back on the radar with the launch of a new voting process, the Australian Choice Model, as a replacement for the current system of the UK’s monarch automatically being Australia’s Head of State.

The Australian Choice Model aims to unite Republicans who were split two decades ago at the referendum in 1999. Some wanted direct election of a head of state and others wanted that person to be chosen by Parliament.

Laurie Patton from Jaspers Brush, NSW regional convenor for the Australian Republic Movement (ARM) which developed this model, says there is still a lot of debate to be had before it goes to a referendum.

At this early stage, among former Prime Ministers, Malcolm Turnbull is for the model while Paul Keating is against.

“We want people to fully understand what is being proposed and to feel comfortable with the changes,” says Laurie.

With the new model, Laurie explains, each State, Territory and Federal parliament will nominate worthy candidates, then from this field of candidates, most importantly, every Australian will get to vote to choose the Head of State for a five year term.

“Our Head of State will have no role in setting policy or passing laws. The Australian Choice model ensures their role is ceremonial in nature, with limited defined powers in order to safeguard

and maintain constitutional order – subject ultimately to the High Court.

“Apart from replacing the King or Queen of England as our Head of State, the ARM’s Australian Choice Model leaves everything else in place. We will still have a Westminster system with all its safeguards developed over centuries.

“The Head of State will act on the advice of the government of the day in all but limited circumstances. They cannot dismiss a prime minister who enjoys the support of a majority in the House of Representatives.

“I’m old enough to remember the sacking of the Whitlam Government in 1975. Of course, years later we learnt that Prince Charles had secretly supported [former Governor General Sir John] Kerr’s actions.

“We can’t risk another constitutional crisis like that. It divided the country and it took decades to heal.”

Geoff Gallup, former WA Premier, Peter FitzSimons, Chair of ARM, and Laurie Patton, NSW Regional Convenor, at the launch of The Australian Choice model

Support for a Republic is strong enough to gain formal approval in the biggest states, according to a recent survey commissioned by the Sydney Morning Herald, with 56 per cent backing the idea in NSW, 54 per cent in Victoria and 52 per cent in Queensland.

At the launch of this new model, ARM Chair Peter FitzSimons said:

“We are 250 years in and it’s time to run our own show.

“How differently would we look at Argentina if we thought that every time they passed a law it had to be signed off by the Spanish Royal Family. Really? In the 21st Century?

“We needed a new model for a new century and one to put before the five million voting Australians who were too young or not even born before the last referendum.

“I love William and Kate, I love the Queen. People can be enthusiastic for the Royal Family – this is not disrespect.

“Whether we do it before or after the Queen passes away, we need a model ready to go. And this is a model ready to go that has the finest legal minds in the country behind it.”

For details of the Australian Choice Model, see

www.republic.org.au/policy