24 November

The new Labor Government supports the formation of an Australian Republic, which is both refreshing and encouraging for Republicans after 11 years of Government opposition. However, Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, said the day before the election that the Republic would not be a priority for his Government. WfaAR will be lobbying the Prime Minister to get the work on the plebiscites started, for a Government response to the 2004 Senate Inquiry and will urge the PM to open up selection processes for the next Governor-General due to be appointed around mid 2008. New Government Ministers vowed to work for the benefit of the Commonwealth but did not swear allegiance to the Queen. Hopes for across-the-board support for the Republic in the next Parliament were dashed when Dr Brendan Nelson, a long-time supporter of the monarchy, was voted in as the new Opposition Leader.