Canberra - Australia will hold a two-week convention next February to debate whether to maintain two centuries of allegiance to the British crown or turn republic.
The Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, an avowed monarchist, said yesterday the Constitutional Convention would be held on February 2nd to 13th in Canberra. If the convention comes to a consensus that Australia's constitutional system should change, the government will then put the issue to a referendum before the end of the year 2000.