1998-1999-2000-2001

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

THE SENATE

Presented and read a first time

Republic (Consultation of the People) Bill 2001

No.      , 2001

(Senator Stott Despoja)

A Bill for an Act to provide for the electors to be consulted, at the same time as the general election for the House of Representatives, on whether Australia should become a republic and on whether they should vote again to choose from different republic models

Contents

1............ Short title............................................................................................ 1

2............ Commencement.................................................................................. 2

3............ Consultation of electors on a republic................................................ 2

Schedule—Consultative questions on a republic                           3

A Bill for an Act to provide for the electors to be consulted, at the same time as the general election for the House of Representatives, on whether Australia should become a republic and on whether they should vote again to choose from different republic models

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

                   This Act may be cited as the Republic (Consultation of the People) Act 2001.

2  Commencement

                   This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

3  Consultation of electors on a republic

             (1)  At the same time as the polling for the general election of the House of Representatives second occurring after the commencement of this Act, the questions in the Schedule must be submitted to electors qualified to vote in that election.

             (2)  For the purpose of subsection (1), the matter in the Schedule must be printed on a separate ballot-paper of a different colour from any other ballot-papers used at the election.

             (3)  The Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984, so far as it is applicable, applies as if the submission of the questions to the electors under this section were a referendum to which that Act applies, but the submission and answering of the questions do not affect the Constitution.

Schedule—Consultative questions on a republic

Directions to voter

                   Write “YES” or “NO” in the space provided opposite each of the questions set out below.

   1.  Do you want Australia to become a republic?

              2.  If most Australians decide they want a republic, do you want the opportunity to choose from different republic models?