|
February 2006
Chair's
Report
A
Mate for Head of State Day
ARM
Media Releases
ARM
Speeches and Articles
News
What's
On
Contact
Us
Welcome to Republican Roundup, the monthly e-newsletter
of the Australian Republican Movement.
|
Chair's
Report
As republicans, the year we've just entered appears
similar the last: the Australian community remains more
focused on backyard issues than big national questions
like the republic and the political landscape still
lacks bi-partisan leadership for our cause.
We republicans can respond to these circumstances in
one of two ways: either accept the fact that these are
difficult times and hang in there, or work in defiance
of the times and get out there, proactively pushing
our cause onto the national agenda.
We must choose the latter option. We must not only take
opportunities when they arise, but also create opportunities
ourselves so that we can continue spreading the key
message that a Republic = an Australian Head of State.
Within this context, you can see how January has been
a very successful month and great start to 2006.
CAMPAIGNS & EVENTS:
A Mate for Head of State
The ARM joined a coalition of republicans in organising
the inaugural A
Mate for Head of State Day , held on Sunday
22nd January. This day of national campaigning was an
enormous success on several levels. Strategically, it
was spot on. Its theme was simple, emotive and easy
to understand. The campaign won some great coverage
across television, radio and the press, and was a regular
feature in opinion pages across the country. Organisationally,
it was planned and executed with great professionalism
and was indicative of the passion for a republic that
lies within and beyond the ARM. A special thank you
and congratulations to the Organising Committee: Roger
Allen, John Bell, Peter Gray, Peter Fitzsimons, Anne
Henderson, Allison Henry, Beth Jackson and Kylie McNamara.
Australia Day
We managed Australia Day by building on the traction
gained by A
Mate for Head of State Day and from media
interest in our response to the Governor
General's extraordinary Intervetion into
the republic debate. I did some national and regional
radio interviews and had an article in the Courier Mail,
while the Sydney Morning Herald also gave the issue
of a republic a positive lift. As always, Mike O'Shaughnessy
and his Letters to the Editor team did a superb job
in keeping the issue out there and in trying to keep
our opponents honest.
ISSUES AND DEBATES:
Governor
General's Intervention
The Governor General (GG), Major General Michael Jeffrey,
took the extraordinary step of intervening in the republic
debate on the very day that republicans across the country
were coming together for a "A Mate for Head of State".
The GG made public statements about fulfilling the functions
expected of a Head of State. In doing so, he broke the
convention of his role in at least two ways: firstly,
he directly intervened in a political debate rather
than remaining non-partisan and secondly, he seemed
to contradict the government of the day that has elsewhere
stated, through Attorney Generals Daryl Williams and
Philip Ruddock, that it is appropriate to regard to
Queen (not the Governor General) as Australia's Head
of State. The ARM
responded accordingly.
The GG followed up with an interview with a Canberra
Times journalist that was published on the weekend after
Australia Day. The GG again failed to be impartial on
the monarchy-republic debate. I have written to the
GG expressing our disappointment with his comments and
again requesting that he meet with ARM representatives.
Newspoll
There was one major difference to this year's Newspoll
survey on a republic, published in The Australian on
21 January. While it contained a standard question about
people's desire for a republic, it also tested people's
desire for a republic with Prince Charles taking over
from the Queen. The inclusion of Prince Charles triggered
an immediate 6% increase in our favour. While this confirms
our suspicions that the thought of Prince Charles as
our next Head of State is opposed by the vast majority
of Australians, I believe the spike in favour would
be much higher than 6% if the republic were a more 'front
of mind issue' for everyday Australia. Nevertheless,
the poll sets the challenge for the ACM and the Australian
Monarchists League to persuade Australia on a case for
having Prince Charles as our next Head of State. If
they shy away from that challenge, they will be in denial
of the very thing they claim to represent.
Sedition Laws Last October, the ARM responded
to members concerns about the definition of "sedition"
in the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act with a letter from
John Warhurst to the Attorney General, Philip Ruddock.
John received a response from the Attorney General earlier
this month. On the basis of this response, we are comfortable
that the aims and activities of the ARM do not fall
into the definition of "sedition" and do not therefore
represent any breach of the Act.
Republican regards,
Ted O'Brien, ARM Chair
chair@republic.org.au
Back
to top
|
Launched at a packed forum at the Museum of Sydney on
18 January, the inaugural A Mate for Head of State Day
was celebrated on Sunday 22 January 2006.
Events hosted by ARM Councils across the country reinforced
the message that the republic belongs to everyday Australians.
From Hobart to Melbourne, Armidale to Perth, Brisbane
to Canberra, the Gold Coast, Sydney Melbourne and Adelaide,
we had ARM Councils, members and republican supporters
wearing their gold ribbons as they ran BBQs, breakfasts,
poured beers and ate sausages in support of 'A Mate
for Head of State'.
Back
to top
|
ARM Media Releases
22 Jan 2006
GG
out of line
20 Jan 2006
A
Mate for Head of State
12 Jan 2006
ARM
slams sexist decision
Back
to top
|
ARM Speeches and Articles
26 Jan 2006
An
Aussie for Head of State
Article by Ted O'Brien in Courier Mail
19 Jan 2006
Give
us a home-grown head of state, not a ring-in
Article by Allison Henry in The Age
18 Jan 2006
Let's
Have One of Us - A Mate for Head of State
Speech by John Bell at The Sydney Institute launch of
A Mate for Head of State, Museum of Sydney
18 Jan 2006
A
Mate for Head of State - Renovate Don't Detonate
Speech by Kathy Bail at The Sydney Institute launch
of A Mate for Head of State, Museum of Sydney
18 Jan 2006
A
Mate for Head of State - Why Australia Needs One
Speech by Gerard Henderson at The Sydney Institute launch
of A Mate for Head of State, Museum of Sydney
18 Jan 2006
Mate,
Join our Party
Article by Peter van Vliet in Herald Sun
16 Jan 2006
Keep
up the Head of State debate, mate
Article by Senator Natasha Stott Despoja in The Adelaide
Advertiser
14 Jan 2006
Answering
a need for hope, optimism and unity through move to
republic
Article by Terry Fewtrell in The Canberra Times
Back
to top
|
News
The republican issue has been in the news of late, prompted
not only by the A Mate for Head of State campaign and
Australia Day, but also by the latest Newspoll and the
Governor General's extraordinary intervention in the
debate.
NEWSPOLL
The latest Newspoll
was published in The Australian on 21 January 2006.
Asking respondents whether they were personally in favour
or against Australia becoming a republic, the poll indicated
support for the republic at 46%, with opposition at
34% and those uncommitted at 20%. These results were
almost identical to those recorded in January
2005.
This year, Newspoll also asked a question referring
to a future King Charles of England and his wife Camilla,
the Princess Consort. Asking respondents whether they
were personally in favour or against Australia becoming
a republic if Prince Charles become King, support for
the republic lifted to 52% with 29% against and 19%
uncommitted.
21 Jan 2006
The
king's in power, long live the republic
Peter Wilson, The Australian
21 Jan 2006
More
favour republic if Charles was king
The Age
GG'S INTERVENTION
The Governor General made some extraordinary comments
on the eve of the national A Mate for Head of State
Day, apparently pushing his credentials as Australia's
number one "mate".
21 Jan 2006
Governor-General
says he's a dinky-di head
Kerry-Anne Walsh, Sun Herald
The ARM responded to the GG's improper intervention
with a media
release which in turn prompted further
comments from the Governor General, rightly acknowledging
that the republican issue was a question for the Australian
people.
22 Jan 2006
Republic
the choice of the people: G-G
The Age
The GG's comments prompted responses from other quarters,
Alan Jones on the Today program attacked A Mate for
Head of State, while Gerard Henderson stated that "Michael
Jeffrey may well be everyone's mate, but he is no one's
head of state," in an article published in the Sydney
Morning Herald and The West Australian.
23 Jan 2006
Republic
Alan Jones, Today show editorial
24 Jan 2006
Sorry,
mate, but Her Maj's got that gig
Gerard Henderson, Sydney Morning Herald & The West Australian
An article "A vice-regal vision" published in the Canberra
Times on 28 January featured a long article with the
GG. While declaring that he "never make[s] political
comment", the GG did exactly that, stating that "they
[many people] think that just by cutting the ties with
the monarchy that we will go into a land of milk and
honey, but that is not necessarily the case".
RECENT MEDIA
26 Jan 2006
The
Australian republic must rise again
Editorial, Sydney Morning Herald
26 Jan 2006
If
the people want their independence, it's their move
Elaine Thompson, Sydney Morning Herald
25 Jan 2006
The
Australian Dream: Indigenous Peoples in an Australian
Republic
Larissa Behrendt, Perspective, ABC Radio National
23 Jan 2006
What
republic?
Editorial, The Australian
23 Jan 2006
Republicans
wait for royal wavering
Michael Atkin and Dan Box, The Australian
21 Jan 2006
A
whiff of snags and a republic
David Marr, Sydney Morning Herald
20 Jan 2006
How's
about a shot at the top job, mate?
Nick Squires, New Zealand Herald
Back
to top
|
What's On
ACT Branch Meeting
Date: Monday 6 February 2006
Time: 7:45pm
Venue: Italo-Australian Club, Forrest
ALL ARM MEMBERS WELCOME.
ARM NEW MEMBERS FORUM, Melbourne
The ARM invites new members to an informal meeting and
drinks with ARM National Director, Allison Henry,
and Victorian State Convenor, Peter van Vliet.
Venue: CELTIC CLUB
Address: 316-320 Queen Street, Melbourne
Date: Wednesday 8 February 2006
Time: 6.30pm
Come and learn about the ARM's organisation, objectives
and how you can contribute to the
republican cause. For further information contact Peter
van Vliet on 0408 188 055.
ARM Victorian State Council Meeting
Venue: CELTIC CLUB
Address: 316-320 Queen Street, Melbourne
Date: Wednesday 15 February 2006
Time: 6.30pm
ALL ARM MEMBERS WELCOME. For further information contact
Peter van Vliet on 0408 188 055.
The ARM’s QLD Council presents 'Munich’, starring
Eric Bana and Geoffrey Rush
Date: Friday 17th February 2006
Time: Function 6.15 pm for 7pm movie
Venue: Palace Centro
Address: 39 James Street Fortitude Valley
Cost: $20 per person ~ includes pre-movie drinks (beer,
champagne, wine and juice)
RSVP: Wednesday 15th February 2006 - David on 0407 363
368 or at 1@dwmobrien.com
or by returning the form below.
Flyer
Back
to top
|
Contact Us
ARM National Office
PO Box A870 Sydney South NSW 1235
Telephone: 1800 80 2000
Facsimile: (02) 9267 8155
Email: republic@republic.org.au
ACT Branch
Council
NSW Branch Council
NT Branch Council
QLD Branch Council
SA Branch Council
TAS Branch Council
VIC Branch Council
WA Branch Council
ARM Women's
Network
ARM Youth Network
Back
to top
|
Over 10,000 people receive Republican
Roundup each month... but there's always room
for more.
Please forward this email to friends and colleagues
who support an Australian Head of State.
You have received this email because you are registered
as an ARM member or supporter.
To unsubscribe, please
click here.
|
|
|
|