29 July

The Senate Inquiry into the Republic holds its final hearing in Canberra.  Women for an Australian Republic was invited to appear and was represented by National Convenor, Sarah Brasch.  Sarah was only the seventh and final woman of 50 witnesses to speak to the Committee.  A copy of WfaAR ‘s opening address to the Committee can be read here.  The Committee questioned WfaAR about reasons why women do not appear to support the republic as strongly as men do and the implications of our support for voluntary voting for head of state.  The Senators also probed women’s support for voluntary voting for delegates to the last Constitutional Convention and whether a voluntary system would discourage women and disadvantaged people from voting.  WfaAR’s evidence given at this hearing can be found at http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/s-lc.htmor through http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/legcon_ctte/republic03/index.htm