Labor looks to Ireland for republic model

The Albanese government will go to the next election setting out a detailed policy for Australia to become a republic if the voice referendum succeeds.

Assistant Minister for the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite.

The Albanese government will go to the next election setting out a detailed policy for Australia to become a republic if the voice referendum succeeds.

Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister for the Republic, at a Labor national conference event said constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians was the first step and a republic the second in Australia’s “journey to maturity and independence”.

The convener of Labor for the Republic, Daniel White, told the fringe program forum that “something like 2026” was the ideal time for a republic referendum but agreed a successful voice referendum was a critical first step.

Mr Thistlethwaite declined to outline a timetable for a republic referendum to The Weekend Australian but did flag he would use 2024 to energise support for severing constitutional ties with Britain ahead of a policy statement at the next election.

“The first argument I always put for the republic is it is about our identity and reflecting who we truly are as Australians,” Mr Thistlethwaite told the fringe event.

“The second point is about our democracy and strengthening the participation of the Australian people.”

There were several constitutional processes Mr Thistlethwaite said he was considering to maximise public support for a republic referendum. These included a citizens assembly and a constitutional convention to determine a republic model and constitutional changes.

Labor would consider holding a plebiscite with two questions on the same day. First, a “yes” or “no” question on becoming a republic. And second, a list of several republic models with voters to make a preference.

If the “yes” vote was in the majority, the preferred model chosen in the plebiscite would then be put to a constitutional referendum.

There were two fundamental lessons to be learned from the failed republic referendum in 1999, Mr Thistlethwaite said.

First, the constitutional change lacked support from then prime minister John Howard. And second, there was division among republicans, with some preferring a directly elected head of state rather than a parliamentary appointed head of state.

Labor for the Republic has developed a short list of up to 10 republican models and supports the concept of Declaration of Independence if a referendum is successful.

The Irish model for electing a head of state, combining parliamentary and council nominations with direct voting, appealed to Mr Thistlethwaite.

“If the Irish can do it; we can do it too,” he said.