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May 2005
Chair's
Report
Common
Cause - an Alliance of Commonwealth Republican Movements
ARM
Speeches and Articles
ARM
Media Releases
News
ARM
Membership renewals
What's
On
Welcome to Republican Roundup, the monthly e-newsletter
of the Australian Republican Movement.
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Chair's
report
April was a somewhat quieter month, after February and
March were full on. But there are still a number of
things to report, including important developments at
the State level, the launch of Common Cause with the
three other Commonwealth republican movements joining
ARM, media coverage of the wedding of Charles and Camilla,
a pro-republic speech by Senator Amanda Vanstone, and
the revelation that the Queen's approval had to be sought
for alterations necessary for medals to be awarded to
the servicemen and women who died in the Indonesian
helicopter crash.
In my article Republic
not just a state of the nation, but a matter for the
states in the Canberra Times on 15 April,
I discussed republican
developments at the state level. The most
current of these are changes to the oaths of allegiance
being considered by the NSW and WA parliaments. Other
states are also dabbling in the issue. These bills remove
reference to the Queen. They are part of a general republican
trend to remove prefixes such as "Royal", "Crown", and
"Queen's" in the public and private sector. We should
welcome these developments and support them whenever
possible. Our opponents have very few weapons with which
to attack non-constitutional republicanism. They sneer
at "creeping republicanism" because they have no arguments.
What is happening is open and public change driven by
the republican spirit of our nation.
Look out for a forthcoming major article in the Australian
Journal of International Affairs by Richard Woolcott,
who delivered the 2003
National Republican Lecture. He sent the
ARM a copy and rang to emphasise his continuing support.
Richard writes: "The establishment of an Australian
Republic is not only a Constitutional issue. It is also
has important foreign and trade implications in that
the fact that Queen Elizabeth is our Head of State is
confusing to many other countries. The 1999 Referendum
was a tragic lost opportunity to redefine Australia
to the world. Our constitutional arrangements and our
symbols should reflect what we aspire to be, not what
we were." He concludes: "I have no doubt, on the basis
of representing Australia for 40 years, that the earliest
possible establishment of the Australian Republic will
serve both Australia's domestic and international interests."
After months of discussions, in which ARM was represented
by our National Director Allison Henry, we launched
Common
Cause earlier this month with a media release.
Common Cause is an agreement between the republican
movements of Australia, Britain, New Zealand and Canada
to work together where it is useful, while still maintaining
our independent objectives. We will exchange information
and ideas and issue joint media releases on matters
of common concern. Where there is no agreement there
will be no common action. The whole idea is to help
one another on the grounds that we all benefit as each
individual movement becomes stronger. I would like to
especially recognise the leading role that our ND has
played in this development.
The Royal wedding maintained our profile through the
first week of April. We distributed a media
release and took every opportunity to emphasise that this was
a wake up call to Australians that Charles will become
our future head of state unless we change our constitution
and become a republic.
About the same time I received a response, dated 22nd
March, from Clarence House to our letter delivered to
Charles while he was staying at Government House, Yarralumla.
James Kidner, Assistant Private Secretary wrote: "The
Prince of Wales has asked me to thank you for your kind
letter of 4th March, and to say how much he enjoyed
meeting representatives of your movement while he was
in Australia [That didn't happen, of course!]. It was
good of you to take the trouble to write, and His Royal
Highness well understands the sentiments you expressed
in the letter, which could not have been expressed more
courteously". Charles has extended to ARM greater courtesy
than we have so far been extended by the Governor-General.
We have made this comparison to the media.
Immigration Minister, Senator
Amanda Vanstone, devoted her Sir Thomas
Playford Memorial Lecture at Adelaide University to
her case for a minimalist republic. She has been a long-standing
and consistent republican and I applaud her for that.
When asked by the media to comment on her speech I agreed
with two of Senator Vanstone's themes. The first is
that republican unity is essential for us to win a referendum
and the second is that republican campaigns should be
positive rather than unduly negative. I disagree with
Amanda on some details but I like her republican slogan
for monarchists: "If you love her, set her free."
The need for Royal
approval for changes to Australian medals
gives the lie to monarchist claims that the Queen has
no practical role in Australian politics. We got a good
run on ABC's PM program to make this point. When the
opportunity arises we will make this general point again.
The claims of the monarchists that the Queen has disappeared
from Australian life for all practical purposes are
just not true.
Best
wishes
John Warhurst,
ARM Chair
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On 7 April 2005 the ARM joined with Citizens for a Canadian
Republic (CCR), the Republican Movement of Aotearoa
New Zealand (RMANZ) and Republic in the UK in launching
Common
Cause, an alliance of Commonwealth republican
movements.
Reflecting their distinctive political and constitutional
circumstances, each of the organizations in Common Cause
will retain their autonomous national campaigns while
sharing information, resources and ideas to bring about
their common goal.
While currently limited to republican organisations
in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom,
Common Cause is open to any republican movement within
the Commonwealth sharing its aims.
Common Cause is an exciting development for the republican
movements in each of our countries, demonstrating that
the campaign for democratic Heads of State is no longer
just an Australian issue: many countries in the Commonwealth
are questioning the future of the monarchy.
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ARM Speeches and Articles
15 Apr 2005
Republic not just a state of the nation, but a matter
for the states
Article by John Warhurst, Canberra Times
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ARM Media Releases
8 Apr 2005
Republicans
wish royal couple well
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News
REPUBLICAN DEVELOPMENTS IN THE STATES
Following on from reforms last year to replace
royal symbols and rename "Crown"
Lands in NSW as "State" Lands the NSW Parliament
has recently revisited the issue of MP's oath of allegiance.
The Constitution
Amendment (Pledge of Loyalty) Bill
seeks to amend the NSW Constitution so that Members of Parliament and Ministers take a pledge of loyalty to Australia and to the people of New South Wales instead of swearing allegiance to the Queen. The Bill passed the NSW Legislative Assembly on 7 April 2005 and is expected to shortly pass the Legislative Council.
7 April 2005
MPs
transfer allegiance from Queen to constituents
ABC Online
6 April 2005
State MPs vote to dump oath to Queen
Jane Gibson, SMH
The WA Parliament, after considering legislation last
year to reform
WA oaths also recently reintroduced the
Oaths,
Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Bill 2005.
The Bill is currently being considered by the WA Legislative
Council.
Our opponents oppose these reforms - Australians for
Constitutional Monarchy Executive Director Kerry Jones
last year argued that Changing
the Oaths of Allegiance amounts to republicanism by
stealth. But as ARM Chair John Warhurst
argued in his article Republic
not just a state of the nation, but a matter for the
states, "Monarchists can't have it both
ways. They allege that republicans are hypocritical
when they swear allegiance to the Queen, yet they complain
when changes are introduced to rectify the situation."
MEDALS APPROVED BY QUEEN
Following the tragic deaths of nine Australian military personnel in Nias, the Prime Minister announced that hundreds of Australian military personnel would be awarded the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal. The Prime Minister's announcement made clear that the Queen had "provided in-principle approval for this medal", highlighting one of the many roles the Queen retains in Australia.
Monarchists of course insist that the Governor General
is our Head of State. As we highlighted in last May's
Republican
Round Up - when medals for servicemen and
women serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, and approved
by the Queen, were announced - why should the approval
of the Queen be sought if she is not our Head of State?
ARM Chair John Warhurst appeared on the ABC radio's PM program, arguing that "that this is just the sort of thing that an Australian head of state should be doing and it shouldn't involve the Queen at all."
12 April 2005
Queen's role in question over military awards
Jayne-Maree Sedgman, PM, ABC radio
MEDIA REPORTING
Regular readers of Republican Round Up would be aware that here at the ARM we like to keep a close eye on media reporting, particularly in relation to the whole question of who is Australia's head of state.
Two latest examples…
It seems the BBC was having trouble finding an Australian sufficiently interested in the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles and succumbed to interviewing Australian for Constitutional Monarchy chair Professor David Flint. Unfortunately the BBC didn't feel the need to disclose Professor Flint's position with ACM, as uncovered by the ABC's Media Watch program…
18 April 2005
The BBC's typical Aussie monarchist
Media Watch, ABC TV
Congratulations to the ARM's Victorian Convenor, Peter Van Vliet, who recently complained to the ABC following a news website report on March 3 that several thousand Melburnians had turned out to greet Prince Charles in the city centre. van Vliet argued that the report was "wildly inaccurate" and that no more than several hundred people had welcomed Prince Charles. After ABC corporate affairs initially maintained the report was accurate, van Vliet wrote to the ABC's Complaints Review Executive, who found there were reasons to question the accuracy of the ABC's report of the crowd number, including a lack of corroboration from other media. In his written determination, the ABC's Mr Batten said the complaint was justified, and recommended that clarification be made in an appropriate form. van Vliet is yet to be informed that the ABC has corrected the record…
GG'S PAST AND PRESENT IN THE NEWS
30 April 2005
Former
G-G costs taxpayers $1600 a day
Simon Kearney & Kate Legge, The Australian
12 April 2005
Prince
Charles lands himself in another diplomatic incident
Guy Adams, The Independent (UK)
REPUBLICAN SENATOR VANSTONE
Unfortunately Senator Vanstone's Sir Thomas Playford Memorial Lecture is not available online, however a recent transcript from ABC radio's Sunday Profile highlights her republican colours.
10 April 2005
Senator
Amanda Vanstone
Sunday Profile, ABC radio
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ARM Membership renewals
It is again coming up to that time of the year when
we ask if you could please renew your ARM membership.
For the first time since the 1999 referendum (and indeed
since the introduction of the GST) we will this year
be increasing our annual membership fees.
Standard membership will increase from $36 to $48 and
Household membership from $48 to $60. Concession membership
for pensioners and students remains at $12. We are also
abolishing the pro-rata system so that these rates apply
throughout the membership year (1 June - 31 May). Any
new members joining from March-May will automatically
receive 13-15 months membership for the annual fee.
The rate rise reflects increased administrative costs
in running the ARM and we hope will reduce pressure
on other income steams, most particularly branch fundraising.
Most financial members will have already received their
renewal notices, the remainder will be sent out shortly.
If you have previously given the ARM an authorisation
for automatic deduction, it will be effected in the
week beginning 16 May.
Renew
your membership online
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What's On
MAY
SA
Annual Republican Fundraising Dinner with Guest Speaker Bill
Peach
Date: Friday 6 May 2005
Time: 7.00 for 7:30pm
Venue: West Adelaide Footballers Club
Address: 57 Milner Rd, Richmond
Cost: $45 per head ~ drinks at club prices
RSVP: Geoff 0417 086 768 or sa@republic.org.au
Flyer
ARM
Vic State Council Meeting and Dinner in the Goldfields
Date: Saturday 14 May 2005
Time: SC Meeting – 5.30 to 6:30pm ~ Dinner 7.00pm
Venue: Shamrock Hotel
Address: Corner Pall Mall and Williamson Street, Bendigo
Drinks/Dinner at Restaurant Prices
RSVP: Simon Bateman, Vic Secretary, vic@republic.org.au
Flyer
Tasmanian
Republican Gathering with ARM Chair John Warhurst
Date: Tuesday 24 May 2005
Time: 6.00pm - 7.30pm
Venue: The Republic Bar & Cafe (upstairs room)
Address: cnr Elizabeth and Burnett Streets. North Hobart
Cost: Gold coin donation ~ buy your own drinks at the bar
upstairs (nibbles provided)
RSVP: Friday 20 May to Lisa Singh 0438 380 988
All welcome to stay on for dinner at the Republic after when
there will be further opportunity to chat with John informally.
Flyer
JUNE
Victorian
ARM Annual Conference
Date: Saturday 4 June 2005
Time: 9am - 1pm
Venue: Building Display Centre
Address: 332 Albert St, East Melbourne
Cost: $10/$5 conc
RSVP: vic@republic.org.au
followed by
Victorian
Annual Fundraising Dinner, with special guest speaker Senator
Natasha Stott Despoja
Date: Saturday 4 June 2005
Time: 7pm for 7.30pm
Venue: Republic Café and Bar
Address: 365 LaTrobe Street Melbourne
Cost: $55 / $45 conc
RSVP: vic@republic.org.au
Flyer
2005 ACT Annual Fundraising Dinner, with special guest speaker Senator Marise Payne
Date: Saturday 4 June 2005
Time: 7pm
Venue: The Sky Lounge and Terrace, Yamba Southern Cross Sports
Club
Address: Irving Street, Phillip
Cost: $35 (three course meal ~ drinks at club prices)
RSVP: Jane Castles on 0412 392 577 or email act@republic.org.au
Flyer
ACT ARM BRANCH MEETING
Date: Monday 6 June 2005
Time: 7.45pm (Members are welcome to join others for a meal before the meeting at 6.30pm in the Italian Bistro)
Venue: Italo-Australian Club
Further details / RSVP: Jane Castles 0412 392 577 or act@republic.org.au
ARM
Quarterly Fundraising Lunch with special guest John Bell
Hosted by the Hon Dr Meredith Burgmann MLC
Date: Wednesday 15 June 2005
Time: 12:15 for 12:30pm
Venue: President’s Dining Room, NSW Parliament House
Address: Macquarie Street, Sydney
Cost: $165 (includes three course meal and drinks)
RSVP: director@republic.org.au
Flyer
JULY
NSW
State Council Annual Fundraising Lunch with special guest
Ian Keirnan
Date: Friday 1 July 2005
Time: 12:30pm
Venue: Strangers Dining Room, NSW Parliament House
Address: Macquarie Street, Sydney
Cost: $100 (includes three course meal and drinks)
RSVP: nsw@republic.org.au
Flyer
ACT ARM BRANCH MEETING
Date: Monday 4 July 2005
Time: 7.45pm (Members are welcome to join others for a meal before the meeting at 6.30pm in the Italian Bistro)
Venue: Italo-Australian Club
Further details / RSVP: Jane Castles 0412 392 577 or act@republic.org.au
AUGUST
The
ARM’s NSW Council presents a guided tour of the Margaret Preston
Retrospective to be followed by drinks
Venue: The NSW Art Gallery
Address: Art Gallery Road Sydney
Date: 3 August 2005
Time: 5.30 pm
Cost: $20.00 per person
RSVP: nsw@republic.org.au
Flyer
ACT ARM BRANCH MEETING
Date: Monday 1 August 2005
Time: 7.45pm (Members are welcome to join others for a meal before the meeting at 6.30pm in the Italian Bistro)
Venue: Italo-Australian Club
Further details / RSVP: Jane Castles 0412 392 577 or act@republic.org.au
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