today.

Although the three Independent Senators could vote with the Progressive Labour Party Senators to defeat the Government bill, that is not expected to happen.

The Independence Referendum Act 1994 would allow for a referendum on Independence this year, following a Commission of Inquiry on the issue. The bill received first reading last Wednesday. PLP Senators stayed away from that meeting, because the Government had earlier said the Senate would not convene until today.

Despite the great divisions the Independence referendum plan has revealed, Independent Sen. Alf Oughton said yesterday he had not been lobbied on the issue.

"I haven't heard from anybody,'' on either side of the issue, he said.