Rupert Murdoch has predicted Australia will become a republic within the next ten years and said he welcomes the Voice referendum result.
As part of an exclusive interview ahead of The Australian’s 60th birthday, the Chairman Emeritus of News Corp and Fox Corporation said he believed “without a doubt” the nation would be a republic by 2034.
“I think without a doubt, it’s going to evolve. John Howard, who was old fashioned, and therefore a monarchist, I guess, was very clever the way he designed the question that was put to people, which is really what do you put in its place,” Mr Murdoch told Sky News Chief Executive Officer Paul Whittaker.
“It’s going to happen.”
Mr Murdoch made a last ditch plea for a Yes vote for a Republic in a story on the front page of The Australian – just days before the vote for a Republic was soundly defeated at the referendum poll on November 6, 1999.
“There is a huge majority for the republic. The yes vote is split, but they still believe in the principle of a republic,” he said in the masthead’s front page on November 3, 1999.
He argued in 1999 a British monarchy had become “irrelevant” to Australians.
“It’s not just a question of the monarchy , it’s a question of whether Australia has any self-confidence,” he said.
When it comes to Indigenous issues, the News Corp Emeritus Chairman told Mr Whittaker he was “very” proud of The Australian’s legacy with the newspaper having been ahead of its time.
“We were invaders in a sense. They were nomadic people with a lot of history,” he said.
“I mean, there’s some outrages, like in Tasmania, and you know, that’s a cross we have to bear.”
“I’m a long way away, and I understand the motive, but it struck me as something which would end up being divisive, without really achieving anything for the Aboriginals,” he said.
“So from what little I know about it, I certainly welcome the result.”
Mr Murdoch was also asked to reflect on the war in Vietnam and The Australian’s opposition to the government’s decision to send its troops to assist the US, revealing what he thinks of the matter now.
“I don’t know, to stay close to America to help, yes,” he said.
“But do the Americans remember that today? No, I think they assume Australia’s a good ally, so probably, probably was right.”
Sky News has announced it will premiere a new documentary The Australian: 60 Years of News on Monday 15 July at 8pm AEST, as the country’s only national broadsheet marks its sixtieth anniversary.
Hosted by Sky News Host and Associate Editor of The Australian Chris Kenny, the one-hour documentary The Australian: 60 Years of News journeys through the archives to uncover historic newsroom footage and speaks to prominent figures who have contributed to the masthead’s national affairs coverage for six decades including The Australian’s founder Rupert Murdoch.
Mr Murdoch sat down with Chief Executive Officer of Sky News Australia and former Editor-in-Chief of The Australian, Paul Whittaker in a series of exclusive interviews.
During the wide ranging and revealing exchanges, the Chairman Emeritus of News Corp and Fox Corporation talks candidly about the early challenges of creating a national newspaper and the impact it had on the Australian media landscape.
The documentary also hears from current Editor-in-Chief of The Australian Michelle Gunn, Editor-at-Large Paul Kelly, former Editor-in-Chief Chris Mitchell, columnist Janet Albrechtsen, investigative journalist and podcast creator Hedley Thomas, cartoonist Johannes Leak, and prominent political leaders including former Prime Ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott and Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
Mr Kenny described the documentary as a “compelling and inspirational” story.
“It is impossible to imagine this country and our national debate without The Australian now, but its establishment, survival and evolution has been a story of imagination and determination that mirrors the national project it champions. It is a compelling and inspirational story to tell,” he said.
‘The Australian: 60 Years of News’ premieres Monday 15 July at 8.00pm AEST. The documentary will be available at SkyNews.com.au with the new $5 per month streaming subscription, or download the Sky News Australia app. Also available to watch on Foxtel and Sky News Regional or stream on Flash.