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ARM MEDIA RELEASE - 1 March 2005
Charles 4 an Australian republic
The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) is confident
that Prince Charles's current visit to Australia - his
first since 1994 - would continue to stimulate discussion
about Australia becoming a republic.
ARM Chair Professor John Warhurst stated: "It's more than
a decade since Prince Charles was last in Australia. Even
back in 1994 he could see the writing on the wall for
the British monarchy in Australia. And as recent weeks
have shown, despite the defeat of the 1999 referendum,
the debate about an Australian Republic is not yet resolved."
In his Australia Day speech in 1994 the Prince of Wales
specifically commented on the republican debate in Australia,
stating that it was "not surprising" that some Australians
wished "to see such a rapidly changing world reflected
by a change in Australia's institutions." His Royal Highness
further stated,
"The point I want to make here, and for everyone
to be perfectly clear about, is that this is something
which only you - the Australian people - can decide.
Personally, I happen to think that it is the sign of
a mature and self-confident nation to debate those issues
and to use the democratic process to re-examine the
way in which you want to face the future. Whatever course
you ultimately decide upon, I can only say that I will
always have an enormous affection for this country."
Reports out of London overnight indicate that the Prince
remains realistic about his chances of becoming Australia's
Head of State.
Professor Warhurst reiterated that Australian republicans
were concerned with institutional reform, not the personalities
involved. "In recent weeks Australians have reviewed our
constitutional arrangements and found them lacking: the
institution of the British monarchy is outdated and increasingly
irrelevant in Australia, not matter who fills the roles.
Obviously we are encouraged that support for a republic
is again on the rise. We will continue to work towards
achieving an Australian Head of State."
ARM National Director Allison Henry said that the ARM
had sought a meeting with the Prince of Wales through
the Governor-General. "Given his rather sympathetic comments
in 1994, we were keen to meet with the Prince and update
him on state of play in the constitutional debate in Australia.
Unfortunately we have been informed by the Prime Minister's
Department that Clarence House was unable to fit us into
the Prince's schedule while in Australia."
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