ARM MEDIA RELEASE - 5 December 2005

100 DAYS TO THE GAMES, BUT HOW MANY BEFORE A REPUBLIC?

The Australian Republican Movement's new National Chair, Ted O'Brien, today called on all Australians to get behind the Commonwealth Games, our Australian athletes and also an Australian head of state.

"With 100 days to go, Australians should be getting behind the Games and our great athletes. But let's also get behind the call for an Australian head of state.

"Australia is one of only 16 nations in the Commonwealth that retains the British Monarch as its head of state. The remaining 37 nations have their own head of state and have achieved full independence from Great Britain, while remaining proud members of the Commonwealth.

Mr O'Brien said that Australia could become a republic and remain in the Commonwealth.

"Most Commonwealth nations have cut the apron strings and moved on. It's time Australia did the same," he said. "The Commonwealth may represent a shared history, but we lag behind the vast majority of member nations that have now become independent of Britain."

Victorian ARM Convenor, Peter van Vliet, also called on republicans to get behind the games.

"Melbourne looks set to have a terrific Commonwealth Games next March. We want to get the message across that an independent Australian can remain in the Commonwealth but standing on our own two feet with our own head of state.

"At the ARM we'll be barracking for the games, barracking for our Australian athletes, but also barracking for an Australian head of state", Mr van Vliet concluded.