Bill Shorten says Australia should not wait for change of monarch to renew republic debate

Updated

Australians should not wait until the Queen dies to renew the debate about becoming a republic, Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says.

Speaking at an event in Sydney last night, Mr Shorten said becoming a republic and the recognition of Indigenous Australians were the two major priorities for constitutional change.

He said it had been 16 years since Australians last voted on whether to become a republic and a new generation of voters deserves to have their say.

"Like all Australians, I have tremendous respect for Queen Elizabeth, she has fulfilled her constitutional responsibilities with grace for many years," he said.

"But I don't believe we have to wait for a change of monarch to renew the Republic debate."

He said if the constitution was being drafted today, voters would choose to have an Australian head of state.

"I think our ultimate goal should be to lay out a clear process; choosing the right sequence and combination of options such as a constitutional convention, a plebiscite to gain popular support and choose the model and a referendum to decide by the people whether we enact the change," he said.

Mr Shorten also said if the constitution was drafted today, people would "unquestionably end the great Australian silence" and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as traditional owners of the land.

"In all likelihood, it would be the first sentence on page one," he said.

Mr Shorten and Prime Minister Tony Abbott are due to meet Indigenous leaders on July 6 to consider the model for a referendum on indigenous recognition.

ABC/AAP

Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, republic, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, community-and-society, australia, united-kingdom

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