FED: Reith denies he is a monarchist sympathiser

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-1999
FED: Reith denies he is a monarchist sympathiser

By Rod McGuirk

HOBART, Aug 3 AAP - Opposition Leader Kim Beazley lacked the leadership to support a
republic headed by a directedly elected president, Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith
said today.

Mr Beazley had acknowledged that most people within Labor supported a direct election
republic model.

"The challenge for Kim Beazley is to actually show some leadership and to support what is
the broad position as stated by him of his own party membership," Mr Reith told reporters
here.

"He might then realise as within his own party so it is within the Australian community.

"You're not going to get a republic until you put up a republic that's worth having."

Mr Reith dealt a shock blow to the republic movement by announcing on the weekend that he
would support the "no" vote at the November referendum.

But Mr Reith denied Australian Republican Movement head Malcolm Turnbull's allegation that
he was a monarchist sympathiser.

"No, I'm not and my views on this have been on the public record for years," Mr Reith said.

"I don't really think Malcolm does his cause any good by attacking people's motives and
getting into personality politics.

"I can assure him from my experience most Australians simply want to hear the argument for
and against the proposition.

"They do not want to hear a whole lot of personal vitriol for which unfortunately Mr
Turnbull seems to have a bit of an interest."

Mr Reith said he had not been reprimanded for taking his public stance.

"I must so I'm most appreciative of the overwhelming support that I've had," he said.

Mr Reith also denied allegations that he had become a regular at monarchist meetings.

"I don't think I've been to any monarchist meetings in the last two-or-three months," he
said.

AAP rmg/sc/it

KEYWORD: REPUBLIC REITH (CARRIED EARLIER)

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