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Abbott says republic a long way off as he defends Australia's political 'maturity' Abbott says republic a long way off as he defends Australia's political 'maturity'
(35 minutes later)
Tony Abbott has criticised advocates of a republic for suggesting there is a lack of maturity and independence in Australia’s system of government, after the Australian Republican Movement (ARM) sought to build fresh momentum.Tony Abbott has criticised advocates of a republic for suggesting there is a lack of maturity and independence in Australia’s system of government, after the Australian Republican Movement (ARM) sought to build fresh momentum.
The staunchly monarchist prime minister predicted the country was unlikely to become a republic “any time soon” and he revealed the treasurer, Joe Hockey, had not spoken to him before agreeing to help lead a new parliamentary friendship backing change. The staunchly monarchist prime minister predicted the country was unlikely to become a republic “any time soon” and he revealed the treasurer, Joe Hockey, had not spoken to him before agreeing to help lead a new parliamentary friendship group backing change.
Australians for Constitutional Monarchy (ACM) – a group Abbott once headed – accused Hockey of “going off on a folly” at a time of pressing domestic and international economic issues.Australians for Constitutional Monarchy (ACM) – a group Abbott once headed – accused Hockey of “going off on a folly” at a time of pressing domestic and international economic issues.
Related: Australian republic: time for 'high-brow worthiness' over, says Peter FitzSimonsRelated: Australian republic: time for 'high-brow worthiness' over, says Peter FitzSimons
Australians voted against a republic in 1999 after divisions about the best model to be adopted, but republicans want to spearhead a push to have a non-binding national vote within the next five years on the principle of having an Australian head of state. A successful vote would prompt serious discussions about the model to be put to the people at a subsequent referendum.Australians voted against a republic in 1999 after divisions about the best model to be adopted, but republicans want to spearhead a push to have a non-binding national vote within the next five years on the principle of having an Australian head of state. A successful vote would prompt serious discussions about the model to be put to the people at a subsequent referendum.
Peter FitzSimons, the chair of the ARM, used an energetic speech to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday announce that Hockey, his friend, would be the co-convenor of a parliamentary group for an Australian head of state.Peter FitzSimons, the chair of the ARM, used an energetic speech to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday announce that Hockey, his friend, would be the co-convenor of a parliamentary group for an Australian head of state.
Hockey, whose support for a republic has been on the public record for years, will be joined by the former Australian Capital Territory chief minister and Labor senator, Katy Gallagher.Hockey, whose support for a republic has been on the public record for years, will be joined by the former Australian Capital Territory chief minister and Labor senator, Katy Gallagher.
Abbott said his understanding was that the news about Hockey’s participation “kind of seeped out via a republican activist”.Abbott said his understanding was that the news about Hockey’s participation “kind of seeped out via a republican activist”.
Abbott said he and Hockey talked about many things “but mostly it’s the economy and what the government can do to improve the economy”.Abbott said he and Hockey talked about many things “but mostly it’s the economy and what the government can do to improve the economy”.
“So, no, we didn’t talk about this because we’ve got, I suppose, bigger things on our minds most of the time, but there are lots of parliamentary friendship groups and this is just another one of them,” he told Nine’s Today program on Thursday.“So, no, we didn’t talk about this because we’ve got, I suppose, bigger things on our minds most of the time, but there are lots of parliamentary friendship groups and this is just another one of them,” he told Nine’s Today program on Thursday.
Abbott dismissed the catchcry of republicans that Australia should have an Australian head of state. Australia had a governor general who was “effectively our head of state”.Abbott dismissed the catchcry of republicans that Australia should have an Australian head of state. Australia had a governor general who was “effectively our head of state”.
When the interviewer, Lisa Wilkinson, replied that the power ultimately rested with the Queen, Abbott said: “We are a mature country, Lisa, a very, very mature country … and I think one of the problems with the republican push is that it seems to feel compelled in the way that you just have to suggest there’s some lack of maturity, some lack of independence in our system, and I don’t believe that most Australians think that’s the case.”When the interviewer, Lisa Wilkinson, replied that the power ultimately rested with the Queen, Abbott said: “We are a mature country, Lisa, a very, very mature country … and I think one of the problems with the republican push is that it seems to feel compelled in the way that you just have to suggest there’s some lack of maturity, some lack of independence in our system, and I don’t believe that most Australians think that’s the case.”
Asked when Australia would be big enough to stand on its own two feet and become a republic, Abbott said: “I don’t think that there’s anything small about us now and I don’t think that there’s any lack of standing on our own two feet now.”Asked when Australia would be big enough to stand on its own two feet and become a republic, Abbott said: “I don’t think that there’s anything small about us now and I don’t think that there’s any lack of standing on our own two feet now.”
In a separate interview with Seven’s Sunrise program, Abbott said Hockey was “perfectly entitled to be involved in a friendship group” but he played down the prospect of imminent change.In a separate interview with Seven’s Sunrise program, Abbott said Hockey was “perfectly entitled to be involved in a friendship group” but he played down the prospect of imminent change.
“I don’t think anything is going to change on this issue any time soon because we are a great country with a good system of government and we have made extraordinary progress as a nation over the last couple of hundred years,” he said.“I don’t think anything is going to change on this issue any time soon because we are a great country with a good system of government and we have made extraordinary progress as a nation over the last couple of hundred years,” he said.
Abbott is a former executive director of ACM, which has been firmly opposed to a republic and whose current leadership criticised Hockey.Abbott is a former executive director of ACM, which has been firmly opposed to a republic and whose current leadership criticised Hockey.
David Flint, the ACM’s national convener, and Jai Martinkovits, the executive director, issued a statement saying Hockey was “collaborating with Labor to push their latest project” when the nation was bracing itself for international economic developments.David Flint, the ACM’s national convener, and Jai Martinkovits, the executive director, issued a statement saying Hockey was “collaborating with Labor to push their latest project” when the nation was bracing itself for international economic developments.
Related: Popular support for a republic flags to a 20-year low, new poll showsRelated: Popular support for a republic flags to a 20-year low, new poll shows
“The government – in which Mr Hockey should be reminded he is a minister – holds out the governor general across the world as our head of state. He’s received as such by foreign governments. And we’re already a republic, a crowned republic.“The government – in which Mr Hockey should be reminded he is a minister – holds out the governor general across the world as our head of state. He’s received as such by foreign governments. And we’re already a republic, a crowned republic.
“Why, when we are so heavily in debt, does the treasurer want to waste millions more on trying to rerun the failed 1999 referendum?”“Why, when we are so heavily in debt, does the treasurer want to waste millions more on trying to rerun the failed 1999 referendum?”
Flint and Martinkovits sought to highlight division in the “yes” camp and also mentioned the Australian flag. “With the republicans not knowing what sort of politicians’ republic they want, and with the nation’s youth rivalling the elderly as the strongest supporters of our constitutional monarchy and our flag, this is a pointless and wasteful exercise,” they said.Flint and Martinkovits sought to highlight division in the “yes” camp and also mentioned the Australian flag. “With the republicans not knowing what sort of politicians’ republic they want, and with the nation’s youth rivalling the elderly as the strongest supporters of our constitutional monarchy and our flag, this is a pointless and wasteful exercise,” they said.
FitzSimons, a prominent writer and Fairfax Media columnist, said he favoured a minimalist change to the present arrangements to allay the concerns of “the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ crowd”. The Queen appoints the governor general as her representative in Australia on the advice of the prime minister.FitzSimons, a prominent writer and Fairfax Media columnist, said he favoured a minimalist change to the present arrangements to allay the concerns of “the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ crowd”. The Queen appoints the governor general as her representative in Australia on the advice of the prime minister.
“I say everything stays the same, starting with the title of governor general, and including the convention that the prime minister chooses that position, including the reserve powers, and including the writing of the letter seeking position,” he said.“I say everything stays the same, starting with the title of governor general, and including the convention that the prime minister chooses that position, including the reserve powers, and including the writing of the letter seeking position,” he said.
“We simply save the price of the postal stamp. Instead of sending that letter external mail to the Queen of England saying, ‘Your majesty, is it OK with you?’ we send to the parliament of the people to get a two-thirds majority to say will you sign off on this?”“We simply save the price of the postal stamp. Instead of sending that letter external mail to the Queen of England saying, ‘Your majesty, is it OK with you?’ we send to the parliament of the people to get a two-thirds majority to say will you sign off on this?”
FitzSimons acknowledged there were other views about the best model – such as a direct election of the head of state – and said the important thing was republicans unite behind whatever model garnered support in a process that would include constitutional conventions and people’s forums.FitzSimons acknowledged there were other views about the best model – such as a direct election of the head of state – and said the important thing was republicans unite behind whatever model garnered support in a process that would include constitutional conventions and people’s forums.
It was wrong that in the 21st century “a mature and sophisticated nation, multicultural and independent as we are, proud of our egalitarianism and more than ever aware of our Indigenous heritage ... should still be finding our head of state from one family of English aristocrats living in a palace in England”.It was wrong that in the 21st century “a mature and sophisticated nation, multicultural and independent as we are, proud of our egalitarianism and more than ever aware of our Indigenous heritage ... should still be finding our head of state from one family of English aristocrats living in a palace in England”.