FED: Howard says voters, not MPs, will decide republic

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-1999
FED: Howard says voters, not MPs, will decide republic

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says voters, not politicians, will decide whether Australia
becomes a republic in 2001.

The Prime Minister has refused to be drawn on the move by senior cabinet minister PETER
REITH to campaign against the proposal because he would prefer a republic with a president
elected by the people.

Australian Republican Movement chairman MALCOLM TURNBULL has criticised Mr REITH'S stand,
which he says is a ploy to try to block constitutional reform.

Mr HOWARD says Mr REITH is entitled to his views, along with other republicans in cabinet
including Treasurer PETER COSTELLO and government Senate Leader ROBERT HILL.

The Prime Minister says at the end of the day, the Australian people will decide it - not
him, not Mr REITH and not Mr TURNBULL.

AAP RTV jg/jms/jn

KEYWORD: REPUBLIC HOWARD (CANBERRA)

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