This year also marks 20 years since the Constitutional Convention was held in Old Parliament House to consider the path to Australia becoming a republic.

Dr Gallop played a significant role in that Convention 20 years ago as a delegate.

The Convention stipulated that if Australia were to become a republic, it would require a constitutional amendment, followed by a yes vote to a question at referendum.

At the Convention, Dr Gallop was in the group that favoured having a direct election of the Australia president.

“I developed a model for it called the Gallop model. It was voted down and a different model came out,” he said.

“I knew in order to get people to vote for a republic, it was important to get people involved, otherwise they would not see it in their interest.”

Dr Gallop will deliver the Daniel Deniehy Oration by arguing that by opening up the republican question, we open up the questions of political reform more generally.

He is still as passionate about the importance for Australia becoming a republic as he was 20 years ago.  “This is unfinished business for Australia,” Dr Gallop said.

“This was a big rebellion going on at the time. It emerged that we needed our own head of state; we also needed a Bill of Rights. 

“We live in a democratic society and it should be underpinned by rights. We also need to recognise our Indigenous history.

“We have gone some way on these things, but it is still unfinished business as far as I’m concerned.”

Dr Gallop said it was important to have an annual lecture in Deniehy’s name.

“We need to acknowledge his understanding of what the implications of establishing an aristocracy in Australia with limited franchise woudl be,” Dr Gallop said.

“It is very important for us to remember that democracy is something we had to fight for and we should not be complacent about it.

“Deniehy reminds us that there was a time when such a system did not exist and we needed people like him to stand up and fight for us.

“He also reminds us that, at some point, politics got too much for him.

“He did not like the compromises that come with it and sadly his response to that was to turn to alcohol. 

“He reminds us that everyone in politics is also a person and we have to look after our health.” 

The Deniehy Dinner will be held at the Goulburn Soldiers Club from 6.30pm this Saturday, August 18.