ARM MEDIA RELEASE - 14 March 2006

Republics of the Commonwealth welcomed

On the eve of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, the Australian Republican Movement (ARM) today extended a particular welcome to athletes from Commonwealth republics.

ARM Chair Ted O'Brien stated that "It's probably not well known, but Australia is now among a minority of 16 Commonwealth countries who retain Queen Elizabeth II as their Head of State."

There are 71 national teams competing in Melbourne over coming weeks, drawn from the 53 member countries of the Commonwealth - the United Kingdom, for example, competes as England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

"Of the 53 member countries of the Commonwealth, 31 countries are republics with their own Head of State. These include the world's largest democracy, India, its neighbours Pakistan and Sri Lanka, South Africa and Singapore.

"We look forward to the day when Australia joins these Commonwealth republics with a Head of State of our own," said Mr O'Brien.

"An Australian republic could proudly continue its Commonwealth membership," said the ARM's National Director, Allison Henry.

"The Commonwealth represents our shared history. It represents all the good things that Great Britain gave its former colonies like parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, great literature such as Shakespeare and the game of cricket.

"We are proud of our British heritage and value our British institutions and parliamentary traditions, but it's time for Australia to move on and have our own Australian Head of State," said Ms Henry. "An Australian republic could acknowledge this history by remaining in the Commonwealth while letting go of the things we no longer need - like hereditary monarchy and a foreign Head of State".