19 July

The Prime Minister says that he is committed to keeping “mateship” in the preamble. He said on his return from the USA that the term which had been criticised as “too blokey” was sacrosanct. He said,” I like ‘mateship’. It’s…

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18 July

Democrat Senator Natasha Stott Despoja describes the Prime Minister’s insistence on the word “mateship” in his draft preamble as “ridiculously obstinate”. Further she said, “Personally, I do not believe ‘mateship’ has a place in our Constitution. It is an exclusive…

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16 July

Rosemary Neill, writing in The Australian, calls for a comprehensive public education campaign on the republic after a leaked Newspoll survey found that half of a group of voters surveyed didn’t know enough to vote in the November referendum. About 30%…

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15 July

“The Case for YES” published. This collection of papers given at the National Convention of Republicans in February – edited by John Uhr – contains a large number of contributions by women: Kate Carnell, Amanda Vanstone, Natasha Stott Despoja, Marise…

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6 July

Kim Rubenstein, Convenor of Equal Say – Women for a Representative Democracy and AnneWinckel, appeared on behalf of the Women’s Constitutional Convention Steering Committee (of which WfaAR is a member) before the Joint Select Committee of the Federal Parliament in Melbourne, to…

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1 July

A woman nominated as second Boomaroo of Australia. In his new book, creative thinking proponent and writer, Edward de Bono, proposes another model for our Head of State based on the appointment of a unique (seemingly eccentric) Australian monarch intended…

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23 June

The High Court finds that Australia is effectively a republic and independent of Britain since the passing of the Australia Act in 1986. The Court was handing down its judgement in the challenge to Senator elect Heather Hill (One Nation Queensland) who…

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10 June

The Parliament is told that the Referendum for the Republic will cost $82.5m ie $63m to be spent by the Australian Electoral Commission and $19.5m allocated to the YES and NO campaigns and the public education campaign. Note the AEC…

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10 June

Legislation for the Republic introduced into the House of Representatives. The Joint Select Committee to consider the two bills (see item of 21 May for composition of committee) is to continue its inquiry during the winter recess and report by…

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26 May

The Senate agrees to establishment of a Joint Select Committee to consider the Republic legislation (see item below for more details)

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