QLD: Beattie smells a rat on preamble

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-1999
QLD: Beattie smells a rat on preamble

BRISBANE, Feb 15 AAP - Monarchists were attempting to use debate on a new preamble to the
constitution to sabotage November's republican referendum, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie
said today.

Mr Beattie said while he had no problem with the preamble being changed to recognise God,
Aborigines and equality, he believed monarchists and conservative forces were trying to
confuse the issue to undermine the chance of November's referendum succeeding.

He said questions about the preamble should not be put to the public at the same time as
Australians were being asked to vote on the republic.

"I am cynical enough, having been to the Constitutional Convention, to be of the view that
there are those monarchists and conservatives that are trying to use the preamble as a means
of having the republican referendum defeated," Mr Beattie said.

"There should be one question, a simple question put to the Australian people and they
should determine whether they are in favour or against a republican model."

He said the history of referenda in Australia showed that the more questions that were put
to the people, the less likely they would be carried.

"I believe that those that have raised this issue and are now arguing for it ... are not
doing it because they have any good will towards indigenous Australians," Mr Beattie said.

"They're doing it as a means to sabotage the republic."

AAP sls/ms

KEYWORD: REPUBLIC BEATTIE

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