The Government is committed to holding a vote on this issue by the end of the year 2000. The Prime Minister has noted that the Constitutional Convention will serve as a forum for mature discussion on the range of issues surrounding our system of government and proposals for an Australian republic. It will provide a process by which the wider community can become engaged in the debate. To this end, the government has ensured that of the 36 non-parliamentary appointed delegates, half would be women. It is also encouraging that approximately 36 per cent of elected delegates to the Constitutional Convention also, are women.
History shows that achieving any kind of change to our Constitution is no easy feat.
Of the 42 proposals ever put to referendum, only eight have been accepted. This has led a number of politicians and commentators to suggest the high jump bar is too high, or to conclude that Australians are too conservative about our system of government. My own view is that it suggests the importance of ensuring the debate engages the whole community. As Minister for the Status of Women, I believe it is vital that women are involved in this public debate. The Women's Constitutional Convention is an excellent way of achieving this.