Chair's Report
Senate Inquiry update
ARM National Committee elections
Federal Candidates Survey
ARM merchandise
Membership Renewals
ARM Media Releases
ARM Speeches and Articles
News
What's On

Welcome to Republican Roundup, the monthly e-newsletter of the Australian Republican Movement.

The republican issue is back in the public eye this week with the resignation on 9 August of Tasmanian Governor Richard Butler AC. The ARM has issued a statement and is currently undertaking a large number of media interviews. Like the resignation of Archbishop Hollingworth as Governor General last year, this controversy demonstrates that the current system is broken and needs fixing. We've been highlighting that these are the sort of difficulties that can arise from an antiquated constitutional system and that we need to update our constitution and bring it into the twenty-first century.

July was a busy administrative month for the ARM with annual membership renewals, the relocation of the National Office and preparations for the National Committee elections being conducted during August.

On Saturday 17 July I attended the "Vote for Me" policy forum in Parliament House for Channel Seven's Sunrise program. ARM, with Allison Henry and Ted O'Brien behind the ARM stall, talked to the 18 independent candidates and sought their support. Thanks to Allison and Ted for coming from Sydney for the day. ARM was resplendent with a new banner thanks to John Bowdler's initiative - thanks John for your work on that project.

The month ended with some continuing good publicity for the two functions in Sydney and Melbourne at which Nicola Roxon spoke about Labor's policy on the republic. A large article by Andrew Fraser in the Canberra Times on 2 August 2004, ALP ready to pick up the Republican baton again, drew on these two speeches to talk up the plebiscites idea and the link with Ron Barassi - our ARM ambassador - in a most positive way.

Richard Fidler and I have just written articles for the Australian Financial Review and Online Opinion that we are hoping to see published shortly. Their theme is that plebiscites will work for all republicans, whatever model they support. Its inspiration was a rather pessimistic piece by Greg Craven in the AFR / Online Opinion last week attacking plebiscites for being just a front for direct election.

Unfortunately the Senate Inquiry's report expected on 10 August has been delayed until later in August. More on that next month.

The Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee's Inquiry into an Australian Republic has now wrapped up its public hearings. It is expected to report on its terms of reference before the end of August.

Information regarding the Inquiry, including submissions and transcripts from the hearings, can be accessed on the Committee's website.

A two page summary of the ARM's submission is now available on the ARM website.

As reported last month, the ARM will shortly begin surveying federal candidate, and continuing Senators, on their views about an Australian Head of State. We'll be asking whether candidates support Australia becoming a republic with an Australian Head of State, and if they are committed to a second referendum about Australia becoming a republic being put to the Australian people by 2010 or earlier.

Responses will be published on our website. More info to follow next month…

The ARM has recently stocked up on republican merchandise, including popular new kid's T-shirts with "Future Australian President" on the chest. Check out the ARM merchandise range online.

10 August 2004
ARM statement on Butler Resignation

29 July 2004
ARM welcomes Senate Inquiry to Canberra

6 August 2004
Republican disunity still a threat
Article by Professor John Warhurst, Canberra Times

20 July 2004
ARM Sydney Speakers' Series: Labor's Policy on the Republic
Nicola Roxon MP, Shadow Attorney-General

DONALD BUCHANAN CASE

As reported in recent issues of Republican Round Up Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Tribunal last year found that the RSL and its Lindisfarne sub-branch had discriminated against an 81 year old veteran, Donald Buchanan, on account of his political opinion because he would not swear allegiance to the Queen.

Orders handed down by the Tribunal in November 2003 required the RSL to remove the requirement that applicants for membership of the RSL make "a declaration of preparedness to swear or affirm loyalty to the Sovereign of the Commonwealth". The RSL appealed to the Tasmanian Supreme Court, which in late July upheld the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal decision.

The decision means that Tasmanian RSL members will no longer be required to swear allegiance to the Queen. However, media reports indicate that the RSL will only change its constitution in Tasmania, with the issue to be discussed at a national RSL meeting in September.

24 July 2004
Tea for victory in RSL battle
Heather Low Choy, The Mercury

23 July 2004
Lindisfarne R & S L A Sub-Branch and Citizen's Club Inc & Anor v Buchanan [2004] TASSC 73
Tasmanian Supreme Court's Decision

RECENT MEDIA

4 August 2004
Latham's Republican plebiscites are all smoke and mirrors
Greg Craven, Online Opinion (originally published in the Australian Financial Review on 27 July 2004)

2 August 2004
ALP ready to pick up the Republican baton again
Andrew Fraser, Canberra Times

AUGUST

ARM Sydney Speakers Series #2: author and academic Mark McKenna - The Republican Movement and Reconciliation
Date: Tuesday 10 August 2004
Time: 6:00pm drinks for 6:30 start
Venue: Glover Cottages
Address: 124 Kent Street Sydney
Admission: $15 members / $20 non-members
Flyer

Canberra Republican Breakfast with Professor Hilary Charlesworth - Talking to the People: Consulting on the Republic
Hosted by ARM's Women's Network & Women for an Australian Republic
Date: Wednesday 11 August 2004
Time: 7:30am-8:45am
Venue: Canberra Institute of Technology
Address: Constitution Ave, Reid (Entry up the stairs off Constitution Avenue (near St John's Church); Parking available between CIT and St John's (free up to 9am))
Admission: $25
Flyer

Special Fundraising Lunch with David & Kristin Williamson, hosted by the Hon. Dr Meredith Burgmann MLC in the NSW President of the Legislative Council's Private Dining Room
Date: Tuesday 24 August 2004
Time: 12:15 for 12:30
Venue: President's Private Dining Room, NSW Parliament House
Address: Macquarie St Sydney
Cost: $165 incl GST (3 course meal and drinks)
Flyer
SOLD OUT

Victorian Film Night - The OPENING NIGHT of The life and death of Peter Sellers
Date: Thursday 26 August 2004
Time: 6.30pm arrival to pick up tickets. Film starts 7pm sharp
Venue: Cinema Nova
Address: Lygon Court, Lygon St Carlton
Admission: $25 includes film and wine after the film. Tickets to be purchased before film night.
RSVP: by 23 Aug 2004 using attached flyer
Flyer

Film Night - Sydney
Date: Tuesday 31 August 2004
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Parliament House Theatrette
Address: NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street Sydney
Admission: Free to ARM members; $20/ $15 concession to non members (or join on the night and view for free)
RSVP: nsw@republic.org.au
Flyer

SEPTEMBER

Jubilee Public Lecture by John Warhurst - "Why I am a Republican"
Date: Wednesday, 8 September 2004
Time: 6.00pm for 6.30pm (dinner) followed by the lecture
Venue: University House, ANU
Admission: $30 per person and $25 for members for the meal plus lecture
RSVP: 6125 5211

The Republic Upstairs with Campbell Newman, Lord Mayor of Brisbane
Date: Thursday, 9 September 2004
Time: 5.30 for 5.45 start
Venue: Upstairs at The Glassworks
Address: 26 Market Street, City.
Admission: $10 per person. (Pay at door) (Finger food provided ~ drinks at bar prices)
RSVP: davido@carter-spencer.com.au or ring 0407 363 368
Flyer

ARM Sydney Speakers Series #3: former diplomat Richard Broinowski - Reflections on Australia's Sovereignty - from the Perspective of a Diplomat
Date: Tuesday 14 September 2004
Time: 6:00pm drinks for 6:30 start
Venue: Glover Cottages
Address: 124 Kent Street Sydney
Admission: $15 members / $20 non-members
Flyer

OCTOBER

Joint Forum: Victorian ARM-Greens
Date: Friday 1 October 2004
Time: 5.30pm-7pm
Venue: CII Bar & Restaurant
Address: 470 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne (between King & William Sts)
Admission: free
RSVP: by 23 Aug 2004 using attached flyer
Flyer

ARM Sydney Speakers Series #4: Jane Innes, senior lecturer in Law, University of Wollongong - Towards an Australian Republic
Date: Tuesday 12 October 2004
Time: 6:00pm drinks for 6:30 start
Venue: Glover Cottages
Address: 124 Kent Street Sydney
Admission: $15 members / $20 non-members
Flyer

The Republic Upstairs with Tom Potter, CEO of Eagle Boys
Date: Thursday, 28 October 2004
Time: 6.00 pm for 6.15 pm
Venue: Upstairs at The Glassworks
Address: 26 Market Street, City.
Admission: $10 per person. (Pay at door) (Finger food provided ~ drinks at bar prices)
RSVP: davido@carter-spencer.com.au or ring 0407 363 368

NOVEMBER

Annual Republican Lecture featuring special guest Huy Truong, Canberra
Date: Tuesday 9 November 2004
Further details to come…