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World: A battle over the Queen: After a highly charged campaign, Australians prepare to vote on getting rid of the monarch as head of state and switching to a republic; EAN HIGGINS in SYDNEY; Maclean's; ; ; Nov 08, 1999; 34; It is 2005, and Australia is hosting a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders. The president proudly opens proceedings heralding Australia's seamless transition from constitutional monarchy to republic. It is, she declares, a triumph of multicultural endeavour with a stable parliamentary democracy, a booming economy, a self-confident people and increasing influence in regional and world affairs.That's scenario 1. In scenario 2, Australia is in political and economic turmoil. Its attempt to stay in the Commonwealth failed when Malaysia blocked Australia's seemingly routine request to continue membership after it became a republic. A close election has left both the prime minister and leader of the Opposition demanding appointment by the president. The president decides on a change in government, but before he can act, he is sacked by the prime minister. In the ensuing power vacuum, the head of Australia's defence forces ponders a military takeover.Both scenarios, put forward by opposing camps in the nation's battle over switching to a republic, are absurdly overdrawn and hotly debated (the government disputes the Commonwealth spectre, for instance, but the Commonwealth Secretariat in London confirms that Australia would have to reapply). These are politically dramatic times in Australia as it gets ready to make its biggest constitutional decision in a century. On Nov. 6, Australian voters will go to the polls to decide whether to get rid of the Queen as head of state. The referendum proposes that an Australian president elected by a two-thirds majority vote of parliament take over the powers now held by the governor general. Australia would become a republic on Jan. 1, 2001, 100 years after its six states voted, following a stormy series of referendums, to form a federation in 1901.The struggle has powerful echoes in Canada.
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