FED: Howard rules out Republic deal with Tubby

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-1999
FED: Howard rules out Republic deal with Tubby

CANBERRA, Aug 8 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard today denied a report he brokered a deal
which would see former cricket captain Mark Taylor become the public face of the anti-Republic
push.

According to The Sun-Herald, Taylor, who retired from all cricket in February, was set to
campaign for the Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy and urge voters to oppose the
Republic at the November referendum.

The report said Mr Howard first urged Taylor to back the "no" vote three months ago.

But a spokeswoman for Mr Howard said there was no truth to the report.

"The Prime Minister has not discussed the issue with Mark Taylor, let alone brokered any
deal," she told AAP.

"Any views Mark Taylor may hold are entirely his own."

Taylor has also denied the report, with his manager John Fordham saying he had taken no
public position on the issue and would never endorse one side or the other.

AAP ear/adh/de

KEYWORD: REPUBLIC TAYLOR PM

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