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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/05/tony-abbott-says-shortens-republic-plebiscite-plan-is-completely-toxic
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| Tony Abbott says Shorten's republic plebiscite plan is 'completely toxic' | Tony Abbott says Shorten's republic plebiscite plan is 'completely toxic' |
| (4 months later) | |
| Tony Abbott has blasted Bill Shorten’s two-step plan to make Australia a republic, warning it would be “completely toxic” to hold a plebiscite on a republic before a specific model is proposed at a referendum. | Tony Abbott has blasted Bill Shorten’s two-step plan to make Australia a republic, warning it would be “completely toxic” to hold a plebiscite on a republic before a specific model is proposed at a referendum. |
| The former prime minister made the remarks at the Samuel Griffith Society conference in Brisbane on Sunday, defending his decision to hold a plebiscite on marriage equality but warning a plebiscite on a republic could “delegitimise the constitution we have without putting anything in its place”. | The former prime minister made the remarks at the Samuel Griffith Society conference in Brisbane on Sunday, defending his decision to hold a plebiscite on marriage equality but warning a plebiscite on a republic could “delegitimise the constitution we have without putting anything in its place”. |
| In July 2017 Shorten promised that, if elected, he would put the question “do you support an Australian republic with an Australian head of state?” to a national vote in his first term in office. If the yes vote prevailed, a secondary argument could be held about how to choose the head of state. | In July 2017 Shorten promised that, if elected, he would put the question “do you support an Australian republic with an Australian head of state?” to a national vote in his first term in office. If the yes vote prevailed, a secondary argument could be held about how to choose the head of state. |
| On Sunday Abbott warned the plan was a “sneaky, devious, tendentious ploy” that put “the cart before the horse, [by] seeking to gain approval for an end without any agreement on the means for making it happen”. | On Sunday Abbott warned the plan was a “sneaky, devious, tendentious ploy” that put “the cart before the horse, [by] seeking to gain approval for an end without any agreement on the means for making it happen”. |
| “There is a difference between plebiscites that decide, and plebiscites that discredit,” he said. | “There is a difference between plebiscites that decide, and plebiscites that discredit,” he said. |
| Abbott argued that the marriage law plebiscite had helped overcome “divisions in the Liberal-National parliamentary ranks” about same-sex marriage but holding a plebiscite on the republic before a later referendum would amount to a “glorified opinion poll” that would “double the cost of resolving the matter”. | Abbott argued that the marriage law plebiscite had helped overcome “divisions in the Liberal-National parliamentary ranks” about same-sex marriage but holding a plebiscite on the republic before a later referendum would amount to a “glorified opinion poll” that would “double the cost of resolving the matter”. |
| Abbott said Shorten’s policy is “the ultimate cop-out because there are lots of different types of republic” including direct election of the president, or appointment by parliament or the government. | Abbott said Shorten’s policy is “the ultimate cop-out because there are lots of different types of republic” including direct election of the president, or appointment by parliament or the government. |
| Abbott agreed with Shorten that the 1999 referendum – which proposed a president chosen by parliament – was lost in part because many opposed the model of republic. | Abbott agreed with Shorten that the 1999 referendum – which proposed a president chosen by parliament – was lost in part because many opposed the model of republic. |
| “No serious person could decide whether to support a republic without knowing what sort of a republic it would be. That would be as silly as agreeing to get married before you knew your potential spouse.” | “No serious person could decide whether to support a republic without knowing what sort of a republic it would be. That would be as silly as agreeing to get married before you knew your potential spouse.” |
| Abbott argued Shorten’s preferred plebiscite wording is a “trick question” that overlooks the fact the governor general – who represents the monarch – is Australian and can be described as the head of state. | Abbott argued Shorten’s preferred plebiscite wording is a “trick question” that overlooks the fact the governor general – who represents the monarch – is Australian and can be described as the head of state. |
| He suggested that Labor “could gull a majority of people into voting yes on patriotic grounds, even though that would undermine our constitution, without improving it”. | He suggested that Labor “could gull a majority of people into voting yes on patriotic grounds, even though that would undermine our constitution, without improving it”. |
| “It would be an exercise in constitutional vandalism. It would be putting a wrecking ball through our constitution before a replacement is agreed upon.” | “It would be an exercise in constitutional vandalism. It would be putting a wrecking ball through our constitution before a replacement is agreed upon.” |
| Abbott called on Shorten to “do the hard work of deciding what type of republic they think could improve our system of government” before putting it to the people in a referendum. | Abbott called on Shorten to “do the hard work of deciding what type of republic they think could improve our system of government” before putting it to the people in a referendum. |
| “Bill Shorten doesn’t just want to change the government; he wants to change the system of government. | “Bill Shorten doesn’t just want to change the government; he wants to change the system of government. |
| “This needs far more consideration now, before the election; not afterwards, when it may be too late.” | “This needs far more consideration now, before the election; not afterwards, when it may be too late.” |
| Malcolm Turnbull – Abbott’s successor as prime minister and the leader of the failed 1999 republican push – has also floated the prospect of using a plebiscite to hep settle the issue of whether Australia should become a republic. | Malcolm Turnbull – Abbott’s successor as prime minister and the leader of the failed 1999 republican push – has also floated the prospect of using a plebiscite to hep settle the issue of whether Australia should become a republic. |
| Turnbull favours using a plebiscite to first choose between republican models before the favoured option is put to the people in a referendum, but thinks both should wait until after the reign of Queen Elizabeth the second. | Turnbull favours using a plebiscite to first choose between republican models before the favoured option is put to the people in a referendum, but thinks both should wait until after the reign of Queen Elizabeth the second. |
| In January Turnbull cited the successful marriage law postal survey in arguing for a voluntary national vote on the model of republic. | In January Turnbull cited the successful marriage law postal survey in arguing for a voluntary national vote on the model of republic. |
| The deputy Labor leader, Tanya Plibersek, criticised the idea as a “thought bubble” but said it would consider any proposition to advance the debate. | The deputy Labor leader, Tanya Plibersek, criticised the idea as a “thought bubble” but said it would consider any proposition to advance the debate. |
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| Tony Abbott | Tony Abbott |
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| Labor party | Labor party |
| Australian politics | Australian politics |
| Bill Shorten | Bill Shorten |
| Same-sex marriage postal survey | |
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