The New South Wales Labor Premier Bob Carr has completely undercut Kim Beazley's
promise to hold a second referendum for a directly elected president if
the Yes vote wins next Saturday.
Mr Carr, the most senior and successful Labor leader in the country, has
flatly opposed any suggestion of a directly elected presidency.
In the process he has exposed Mr Beazley's humbug.
His strong opposition reinforces the point that if the Yes vote wins on
Saturday there will be no second bite of the republican cherry. The parliamentary
appointment model will be there for good.
Mr Beazley's panicky opportunism has been starkly revealed by the NSW Premier's
stance.
The promise of "Yes and more" injected into the debate at the
eleventh hour is a complete illusion. If the Yes vote wins on Saturday there
will be overwhelming opposition within all political parties to any move
toward a directly elected president.
Bob Carr has had the courage to call it as it is.