Malcolm Turnbull’s opinion about Timing of the next Republic vote

WfaAR is strongly critical of remarks made by former ARM head and now prominent parliamentarian, Malcolm Turnbull, that the catalyst for the republic will be the death of the Queen. The comments received unfortunately wide media coverage. We point out to Mr Turnbull that at least three catalytic events for the republic have already taken place: the 1967 referendum recognising Aboriginal people as citizens; the Governor-General dismissing the Whitlam Government in 1975 and the Bicentennary of white settlement in 1988. Each of these events left deep marks on the Australian psyche and has altered our national identity to the point where changes in the structure of our government are unavoidable. We think that the catalyst for change will come from the Australian people, not from events 12,000 miles away. We expect Mr Turnbull to be promoting the republic during the first term of the Rudd Government and working cooperatively within the federal government, of which he is part, to bring it about.