FED: Democrats complicate republic riddle

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-1999
FED: Democrats complicate republic riddle

CANBERRA, Aug 10 AAP - The Australian Democrats today further complicated the dispute over
what question to put at the November republic referendum by proposing their own compromise
question.

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday agreed to a new question which asks voters to alter
the constitution to establish a republic, with the Queen and Governor-General being replaced
by a President appointed by a two-thirds majority of parliament.

With Labor opposing that question, the Democrats, who hold the balance of power in the
Senate, have put up an alternative which says: "A Bill for an Act to alter the constitution to
establish the Commonwealth of Australia as a republic."

Democrats republic spokeswoman Natasha Stott Despoja said the new proposal would be moved
in the Senate later today.

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KEYWORD: REPUBLIC DEMOCRATS

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