FED: Mark Taylor denies supporting Howard monarchy campaign

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-1999
FED: Mark Taylor denies supporting Howard monarchy campaign

By Ian Jessup

SYDNEY, Aug 8 AAP - Former Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor today denied he had been
recruited by Prime Minister John Howard to campaign against the country becoming a republic.

"Mark Taylor has never spoken to the Prime Minister about this issue. Ever," Taylor's
manager John Fordham told AAP today.

"Mark has taken no public position on the issue, and will never endorse one side or the
other."

The Sun-Herald today reported that Taylor, who retired from all cricket in February, would
become the public face of Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy, which supports keeping
the Queen as Australia's head of state.

The PM first urged him to support the monarchists' cause three months ago ahead of the
proposed referendum on November 6, the paper said.

In the run-up to last year's federal election, Mr Howard aligned himself closely with
Taylor, who had fought back from a horrible batting slump to equal Sir Donald Bradman's
Australian Test record score of 334 not out in Pakistan.

Taylor, the current Australian of the Year, has previously said he would need a convincing
argument to change the constitution.

AAP ij/adh/de

KEYWORD: REPUBLIC TAYLOR

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