Welcome to Republican Roundup, the monthly e-newsletter
of the Australian Republican Movement.
Chair's
report
February
has been a most successful and hard-working month for
us. Congratulations to the many ARM members who have
been active in some way. And I would like to especially
thank the National Director Allison Henry who has put
in many long hours. We've made a lot of ground this
month as shown by the Morgan
and Galaxy
public opinion polls, both showing increases in support
for a republic when Charles is factored in as a potential
King of Australia.
Prince Charles' visit to Australia has clearly been
an important opportunity for us, as has the announcement
of Charles'
forthcoming marriage, which generated more
intense media interest than any other event in my time
as Chair. It has largely been very positive media attention
that has done us a lot of good.
During the royal visit
itself and the days leading up to it I have been extremely
proud of the successful team effort that the ARM has
engaged in. The ARM has been proactive in making the
running for ourselves, releasing regular media releases
throughout February, and we have also taken numerous
opportunities offered by the media to advance our cause.
We have behaved with dignity and kept to our central
messages about the inappropriateness of Charles ever
becoming King of Australia and therefore Australian
head of state by inheriting the position through the
British Royal Family.
ARM representatives have participated in well over a
hundred media interviews in the past three weeks, including
responding to media in New Zealand, Britain, The Netherlands
and Singapore! My own contribution was an article in
the Canberra Times on 25 February titled "Constitutional
system broken, as Charles visit shows". The National
Director recorded an opinion piece for ABC's Perspective,
addressed the Sydney
Institute, and published articles in the
Melbourne
Age and Newcastle
Herald, among many other activities in
an extremely busy week. Ted O'Brien had a Perspective
piece published in the Courier Mail, and I really enjoyed
Peter
Van Vliet's article in the Herald Sun on
the day of Charles' visit to Melbourne. And I've noted
with pleasure the many letters and articles by ARM members.
Well done everyone!
Congratulations and thanks to the organising team for
Gerry Connolly's successful Charles' impersonation event
in Brisbane on the Sunday before Prince Charles' arrival.
A big thank you to Gerry himself, who also dropped by
Federation Square to support republicans welcoming Prince
Charles to Melbourne.
My letter of 25 January to the GG requesting a meeting
with Prince Charles was passed on to the Department
of Prime Minister and Cabinet. I was advised by a PMC
staff member from the Ceremonial and Hospitality Branch
that Clarence House (Prince Charles) had declined my
request on the grounds that they could not fit us in
during a very brief visit. The actual wording of the
letter was: "Program arrangements for the visit are
well advanced and it will not be possible at this late
stage to change existing commitments. We have discussed
your request with Clarence House officials who confirm
this advice".
I am still waiting for a response from the Governor-General
to my letters of 23 November and 25 January, seeking
a meeting with him. We'll be following that up again
in coming weeks.
RECENT POLLS
Two most recent polls indicate that the issue of an
Australian republic is alive and well. The Morgan poll
of 22 February demonstrated 51% support for an Australian
republic, rising to 61% if Prince Charles were King.
The Galaxy poll published in News Ltd papers on 27 February
found support for a republic rose from 53% to 57% when
people considered Prince Charles becoming Australia's
next head of state.
RECENT MEDIA
The announcement on 10 February of Prince Charles' forthcoming
marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles prompted discussion
of the possible constitutional implications for Australia.
It also led to an immediate surge in new ARM members
and supporters as Australians contemplated the appropriateness
of our constitutional arrangements.
16 Feb 2005 Ancient
laws reign in new land
George Williams, Online Opinion (originally published
in Courier Mail 12 Feb 2005)
The coincidental royal tours of our future Head of State,
Prince Charles, and the Crown Prince and Princess of
Denmark, also provided many opportunities for public
and media debate about an Australian republic, both
here and abroad.
Republican Trivia Night - Sydney
Date: Thursday 17 March 2005
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Hellenic Club (3rd floor)
Address: 251 Elizabeth St Sydney
Admission: $25 (includes light supper ~ drinks at bar
prices)
RSVP: republic@republic.org.au
or (02) 9267 8022
