Malcolm Turnbull calls for inclusive grassroots movement for Australian republic
Baku, December 18 AZERTAC
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has reaffirmed his support for an Australian republic but says the country will not support the change happening before Queen Elizabeth ends her reign.
According to Abc News, in a speech to the Australian Republican Movement at its 25th anniversary dinner in Sydney on Saturday night, Mr Turnbull said the next referendum to make Australia a republic needs to be more inclusive and less confusing than the movement's failed bid in 1999.
"Australian people need to feel like they chose the model," he said.
"The clear lesson is that you cannot succeed in any referendum, let alone one that goes to touchstones of national identity, if the proposal is not seen and understood by the Australian people as one over which they all have ownership."
Mr Turnbull doubted whether there would be any support for a president who had "different, let alone wider, powers" to the Governor General.
He also said the "cold and unyielding practical reality" is that there is currently not enough grassroots support for that referendum to pass.
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