FED: Democrats hope for coalition support on preamble = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-1999
FED: Democrats hope for coalition support on preamble = 2

Greens Senator Bob Brown said he was hopeful a consensus could be reached which would avoid
confrontation with the Prime Minister before the referendum on the republic and preamble.

"That is why we have this process for it to go to the the Constitutional Centenary
Foundation and have people other than politicians look at input and improve the preamble where
possible," he said.

"Failing that one of the options is for there to be two or more preambles that people can
look at and vote for.

"We will have to see. That is a long way off yet and fortunately we have got the winter
months in which we can come up with the best possible preamble - one that reflects the
thinking of most Australians and gives everybody a sense of pride."

Senator Stott Despoja said she was confident the preamble would not bog down the referendum
process.

"I am still very, very optimistic that we will actually go to a referendum with two
questions with a positive preamble that encapsulates our aspirations and inspirations, as well
as the decision as to whether or not Australia becomes a republic," she said.

AAP rft/bm

KEYWORD: PREAMBLE DEMOCRATS 2 CANBERRA

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