Northern Territory leaders back push for a republic

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner and Opposition Leader Gary Higgins are united that Australia should get on with the task of completely freeing itself from the British monarchy by becoming a republic

TERRITORY politicians are united in the view Australia should get on with the task of completely freeing itself from the British monarchy by becoming a republic. PICTURE: AAP Image/Lucy Hughes Jones

TERRITORY politicians are united in the view Australia should get on with the task of completely freeing itself from the British monarchy by becoming a republic.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner and Opposition leader Gary Higgins have joined the wall-to-wall support from parliamentary leaders for an Australian republic.

However, the two NT political party leaders have differing levels of enthusiasm.

Chief Minister Gunner was straight to the point.

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“Let’s just get on with becoming a republic,” Mr Gunner said. “I see no reason why there should be any delay to the process of becoming a republic. I support whatever it takes to become a republic.”

Mr Higgins said while he supported an Australian republic he thought the issue of statehood for the NT was “far more important”.

“In the same manner as the debate concerning Australia becoming a republic being reignited, it is my hope that the debate over the Territory becoming a state will also be rekindled and that the Territory Government would take action to move the Territory in that direction,” he said.

“I am pleased that this important issue is again being pondered.

“However, Australia has other very important issues to address — such as continuing to build the economy, tackling terrorism and creating additional jobs — and our attention should remain on those.”

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said a plebiscite or postal survey would be a way to kickstart debate ahead of a binding referendum.

“You’ve got to have that discussion and you know it may be that a plebiscite — maybe even a postal survey given the success of the marriage postal survey — could be one way to deal with that,” he said.

Mr Gunner said he was not in favour of a postal survey or plebiscite.

“It would be expensive, unnecessary and I don’t support it,” he said.

However, Mr Higgins had a different view.

“The same-sex marriage postal survey was successful at determining the will of the people and a similar process might help to reignite a constructive debate,” he said.