ARM MEDIA RELEASE - 8 September 2005

Donald Horne AO

The Chair of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM), Professor John Warhurst, today expressed his condolences at the news of Donald Horne's passing.

Professor Warhurst said that "Donald Horne was both a founding and Honoured Life Member of the Australian Republican Movement."

"His iconic publication The Lucky Country in 1964 opened up wide public discussion on an Australian republic for the first time. In his typical Australian way he bluntly asked the straightforward question: 'Is Australia alone in the world in being unable to rig up its own head of state? This is backwater colonialism, nervous of its final responsibilities'.

"From that time on he was a prolific and outspoken proponent of an Australian republic. Donald Horne participated widely in the republican debate in many forums including broadcasting, public meetings, print media comments, and the publication of books, pamphlets and articles. The republic and relations with Britain were a recurrent theme in many of his books.

"He will be greatly missed; his contribution was enormous and his dedication to the campaign for an Australian republic was unstinting."

On behalf of the ARM, Professor Warhurst extended his sympathies to Mr Horne's wife, Myfanwy, and his family.