The referendum of 1999 in Australia was a national vote held on November 6, 1999, to decide whether Australia should become a republic by replacing the British monarch with a president as the head of state.
The referendum presented two questions to voters:
- Whether the Australian Constitution should be amended to insert a preamble recognizing Australia as a republic with the Queen and Governor-General being replaced by a President appointed by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Commonwealth Parliament.
- Whether the Constitution should be amended to alter the method for determining the term of office of members of the House of Representatives.
The referendum ultimately failed to pass, with both questions being rejected by the Australian electorate. Several factors contributed to the failure of the referendum:
- Divisions within the Republican Movement: The Republican Movement, which advocated for Australia to become a republic, was divided over the preferred model for a republic. There were disagreements over whether the president should be elected directly by the people, appointed by Parliament, or have ceremonial powers. This lack of consensus weakened the campaign for republicanism and undermined public support for the referendum.
- Lack of Clarity in the Model: The proposed model for a republic was criticized for lacking clarity and failing to adequately address key issues such as the selection and powers of the president. Some voters were uncertain about the implications of the proposed changes and felt that more information and debate were needed before making a decision.
- Popular Support for the Monarchy: Despite growing support for Australian republicanism, particularly among younger generations, the monarchy still retained significant popular support among certain segments of the population. Many Australians felt a sense of attachment to the British monarchy and valued the historical and cultural ties between Australia and the United Kingdom.
- Fear of Constitutional Change: Some voters were apprehensive about making significant changes to the Australian Constitution, which had served the country well since federation in 1901. There were concerns about the potential unintended consequences of constitutional reform and a preference for maintaining the status quo.
- Campaign Tactics: The “No” campaign, which opposed the republican proposal, employed effective campaign tactics to highlight the uncertainties and risks associated with constitutional change. This included raising concerns about the potential costs, uncertainties, and division that could result from transitioning to a republic.
Overall, a combination of factors, including divisions within the Republican Movement, lack of clarity in the proposed model, popular support for the monarchy, concerns about constitutional change, and effective campaign tactics by the “No” campaign, contributed to the failure of the 1999 republic referendum in Australia.