Changes made to 2020 Summit Recommendation on Republic

Ten days after the 2020 Summit, the Top Ideas from the Governance Group were changed (the only group of ideas where changes were made). The No 1 recommendation on the republic was changed with Stage 1 to be a plebiscite (a non-binding vote) on the principle that Australia becomes a republic and severs ties with the Crown and Stage 2 to be a referendum on the model of a republic after extensive and broad consultation. WfaAR does not agree with this staging and thinks that the people should make a number of choices at the first vote to prevent the threshold question from being voted down because it lacks detail. The proposed Stage 2 is interesting because it suggests choices on “the model for the republic” instead of the usual: “model for selecting the head of state”. The Government needs to clarify its intentions and whether it accepts the Summit proposals.