FED: Howard sneaky on republic, says Stott Despoja

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-1999
FED: Howard sneaky on republic, says Stott Despoja

CANBERRA, Aug 10 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard was being a bit sneaky with his proposed
question for the republic referendum, the Australian Democrats deputy leader Natasha Stott
Despoja said tonight.

Mr Howard agreed yesterday to a revised question asking whether voters wanted to establish
a republic by replacing the Queen and Governor-General with a president appointed by a
two-thirds majority of parliament.

Despite Mr Howard's proposal being overwhelmingly passed by the House of Representatives,
the Democrats will put up their own simplified question, proposing altering the constitution
to establish the Commonwealth of Australia as a republic.

Senator Stott Despoja pointed out flaws in Mr Howard's proposed question.

"It's a bit sneaky what the Prime Minister's done because he's referred to appointment by
two-thirds of the parliament," she told Channel Nine's Nightline.

"In actual fact, it's appointment by the prime minister, albeit with input from the public,
and of course the parliament ratifying that."

Senator Stott Despoja said simplicity, accuracy and lack of bias in the question were
vital.

She said it was legitimate for the Democrats to put up their own question and hoped that
Labor would be on side, along with a couple of independents.

AAP fh/sc/sr

KEYWORD: REPUBLIC DESPOJA

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