FED: Williams confident of compromise on preamble

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-1999
FED: Williams confident of compromise on preamble

CANBERRA, Aug 11 AAP - Attorney-General Daryl Williams is confident a compromise can be
reached between the Australian Democrats and Prime Minister John Howard to allow a preamble to
be considered at the republic referendum in November.

The Democrats, who yesterday put forward their own simplified version of a republic
referendum question, have been negotiating with Mr Howard on several changes they want to his
proposed preamble.

Issues of contention include the use of the word mateship and the extent of recognition
given to indigenous peoples prior occupation of land and custodianship rights.

"Mateship is on the table and changes to references to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people is another matter on the table and there are other issues as well," Mr
Williams told ABC radio today.

"I am hopeful, perhaps even confident, that there may be a preamble that the government and
the Democrats can agree on because I know that many people would like the opportunity to vote
on a preamble in November," he said.

Mr Williams, who has carriage of the legislation, also strongly denied that Mr Howard had
been forced by Cabinet on Monday to change the initial referendum question to include
reference to the Queen and the Governor-General as a parliamentary committee recommended.

"It was a cabinet decision. It wasn't anybody being forced one way or another and it was a
genuine attempt by the cabinet to formulate a question that was fair to both sides," Mr
Williams said.

"I think if we end up in a situation where neither side actually fully accepts it, each has
some criticism, I think we have probably achieved the right balance."

His defence of Mr Howard follows a report in The Australian newspaper today that the change
had been forced on him, with only five of 17 ministers supporting his preferred option, which
would have focused on a president's appointment by parliament.

Mr Williams did not believe the Democrats' question, which asks if voters want a republic,
would be acceptable.

"It may not offend anyone but there are two things it doesn't do: it doesn't fairly put the
convention model in the formulation of the question; it doesn't tell the people what it is
that they are voting on," he said.

The government has said it won't accept changes to its question and the Democrats have
indicated they are unlikely to press the issue if it means the referendum won't go ahead.

AAP msl/kr/br

KEYWORD: REPUBLIC WILLIAMS

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