Latham sets republic timetable: "Labor leader Mark Latham has set a timetable for Australia to become a republic by 2007 if his party wins government this year. Mr Latham said he was in favour of a direct election model and would hold a plebiscite within 12 months of winning office to ask Australia whether it supported becoming a republic."

Since the defeat of the republic referendum a few years ago, it has become practically inevitable that the 'direct election' model would prevail. In other words Howard, in a short-sighted effort to save the monarchy, has virtually guaranteed the ultimate success of the one model that most conservatives, and in fact most parliamentarians, would not prefer: the direct election of the president.

Latham sets republic timetable: "Labor leader Mark Latham has set a timetable for Australia to become a republic by 2007 if his party wins government this year. Mr Latham said he was in favour of a direct election model and would hold a plebiscite within 12 months of winning office to ask Australia whether it supported becoming a republic."

Since the defeat of the republic referendum a few years ago, it has become practically inevitable that the 'direct election' model would prevail. In other words Howard, in a short-sighted effort to save the monarchy, has virtually guaranteed the ultimate success of the one model that most conservatives, and in fact most parliamentarians, would not prefer: the direct election of the president.