1999 Australian republic referendum
The Australian republic referendum held on 6 November 1999 was a two-question referendum to amend the Constitution of Australia. The first question asked whether Australia should become a republic, with a president appointed by Parliament following a bi-partisan appointment model which had been approved by a half-elected, half-appointed Constitutional Convention held in Canberra in February 1998. The second question, generally deemed to be far less important politically, asked whether Australia should alter the Constitution to insert a preamble. Since the early 1990s opinion polls had suggested that a majority of the electorate favoured a republic in principle. Nonetheless, the republic referendum was defeated.
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| Outcome | Not passed. Australia remains a constitutional monarchy | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Website | Official results | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Results by state and territory | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Saturation of colour denotes strength of vote | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to insert a preamble. Do you approve this proposed alteration? Proposed preamble amendment: With hope in God, the Commonwealth of Australia is constituted as a democracy with a federal system of government to serve the common good. We the Australian people commit ourselves to this Constitution: proud that our national unity has been forged by Australians from many ancestries; never forgetting the sacrifices of all who defended our country and our liberty in time of war; upholding freedom, tolerance, individual dignity and the rule of law; honouring Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, the nation’s first people, for their deep kinship with their lands and for their ancient and continuing cultures which enrich the life of our country; recognising the nation-building contribution of generations of immigrants; mindful of our responsibility to protect our unique natural environment; supportive of achievement as well as equality of opportunity for all; and valuing independence as dearly as the national spirit which binds us together in both adversity and success | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outcome | Not passed | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Website | Official results | |||||||||||||||||||||
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