Prime Minister John Howard has set the year 2000 as the deadline for an historic referendum on whether Australia should become a republic.
However, a 'constitutional convention' of appointed state and federal delegates will have to find a majority in favour of a republic before any referendum is held.
While a referendum before 2000 has been widely anticipated and proposed, Mr Howard's commitment to the date has been the firmest so far.
Speaking on a radio programme, Mr Howard promised Australians a vote 'before the turn of the century' on whether the country should sever ties with the British monarchy, but warned that a 'premature referendum' would lead to social divisions.
'Say you had a referendum and 51 per cent said no, and 49 per cent said yes - that would be a very unsatisfactory result,' he told listeners.
The Prime Minister stressed that the establishment of a republic should be an event that unified all Australians.
