Australian referendum, 1999 (Preamble)

Australian republic referendum, 6 November 1999
A proposed law: To alter the Constitution to establish the Commonwealth of 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. Do you approve this proposed alteration?'
Location	Australia
Date	6 November 1999 (1999-11-06)
Results Votes  % Yes 5,273,024 7001451300000000000♠45.13% No 6,410,787 7001548700000000000♠54.87% Valid votes 11,683,811 7001991400000000000♠99.14% Invalid or blank votes 101,189 6999860000000000000♠0.86% Total votes 11,785,000 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 12,392,040 7001951000000000000♠95.1%
Results by state and territory   Yes     No
Website: 1999 referendum report and statistics Note: Saturation of colour denotes strength of vote

Preamble referendum
A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to insert a preamble. Do you approve this proposed alteration?
Location	Australia
Date	6 November 1999 (1999-11-06)
Results Votes  % Yes 4,591,563 7001393400000000000♠39.34% No 7,080,998 7001606600000000000♠60.66% Valid votes 11,672,561 7001990500000000000♠99.05% Invalid or blank votes 112,474 6999950000000000000♠0.95% Total votes 11,785,035 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 12,392,040 7001951000000000000♠95.1%
Website: 1999 referendum report and statistics

A proposed law: To alter the Constitution to establish the Commonwealth of 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.

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. For some years opinion polls had suggested that a majority of the electorate favoured a republic. Nonetheless, the republic referendum was defeated due to sustained opposition from monarchist groups and to division among republicans on the method proposed for selection of the president.

Australia is a constitutional monarchy under the Constitution of Australia adopted in 1901, with the duties of the monarch performed by a Governor-General selected by the Australian Government. Australian republicanism has persisted since colonial times, though for much of the 20th century, the monarchy remained popular. In the early 1990s, republicanism became a significant political issue. Australian Labor Party Prime Minister Paul Keating indicated a desire to instigate a republic in time for the Centenary of the Federation of Australia in 2001. The opposition Liberal-National Coalition, led by Alexander Downer, though less supportive of the republic plan, promised to convene a Constitutional Convention to discuss the issue. Under John Howard, the Coalition won the 1996 Federal Election and set the Convention date for February 1998.

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