The Philosophy Of New ARM

Ted O'Brien
Chair, National Strategy Group, Australian Republican Movement
31 March 2004

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For just a moment, can I ask that we take whatever thoughts are currently front of mind and push them to the back. In doing so, let's move beyond the 'here and now' to a future time and place.

Try and picture this ….

The year: 2015 … the time: late April, a cool early evening … the moment: ANZAC Day, the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli. It's Stadium Australia … the main event … centre stage for the nation's ANZAC commemorations … and YOU - you are there! The stadium: a sea of green with sprinkles of gold … you: a green beanie, gold scarf, trackie top, blue jeans and boots … you stand there shoulder tight with thousands of your fellow Australians … you hear the echo of Advance Australia Fair … see the hoisting of the Aussie flag … you feel the pride in the memory of the ANZAC legend. A respectful silence falls on the crowd … centre stage: a podium … the Master of Ceremonies speaks … "My fellow Australians" he says, "it is only appropriate that, on this most sacrosanct of national days, our Head of State addresses the nation. Please welcome his Royal Highness, King Charles the III".

How "Aussie" do you feel now?

Ladies and Gentlemen

Today, each one of us remains a secondary citizen in our own land. We are alienated from our own birthright. The Queen of England is our Head of State. Our next Head of State is set to be Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor of London, England, and we will have no say in the matter.

This is not a peripheral issue, not some historical footnote. It remains fundamental to our identity as a nation and to our future. It's why each of us in the Australian Republican Movement is as passionate as ever. And it is why today we launch the "New ARM", the new Australian Republican Movement. We warmly encourage all Australians to join with us in this great task.

And here is where it starts. The ARM has a single goal - a single motivating idea. And that is "an Australian Head of State".

That's it, pure and simple. The sole objective of the ARM is to have "an Australian Head of State" -- to replace the British Monarchy with one of our own, a fellow Australian.

We work for this cause because we believe such a change will help our country realise its potential, strengthening our identity, our democracy and our governance.

Imagine how an Australian Head of State could improve our identity: in how we see ourselves and how we are perceived in the world; our children learning that at the apex of our country sits, not a foreigner, but an Australian; Aussie expats overseas no longer having to explain why the Queen of England is on our coins and why a foreign monarch holds our highest office?

Imagine, too, how an Australian Head of State could improve our democracy: in giving the office true democratic legitimacy; if every Aussie kid had a chance to become Head of State, opening that position to all Australians, to whomever proves themselves worthy?

And imagine how an Australian Head of State could improve our governance: If our laws were no longer able to be constitutionally overturned by the Queen of England; if our public officials started swearing allegiance to the people of Australia, instead of the British Monarch? Imagine enshrining in the constitution - supreme power vested in the Australian people?

Identity, democracy, governance - strengthened by an Australian Republic.

Ladies and Gentlemen, think of your own grand vision for Australia - think of how you would make our country even better. Now ask yourself this question: What more unifying start could there be to realizing your vision than an Australian republic, than an Australian Head of State?

The "New ARM" welcomes all Australians. Our belief is that the path towards a Republic can only be marched as one, can only be marched together. We are not at the end of this march, but nor are we at the beginning. We are at a critical juncture somewhere in-between. And exactly where in-between relies largely on you and me --on all of us--on our ability to embrace our differences and to unite.

The ARM is made up of all types. We're nothing more than an eclectic bunch of 'all sorts': of committed Australians who come from different walks of life and hold different points of view, about many things including the precise form of a future Republic. But you know what? We actually welcome such differences, not only because they are expressions of a healthy democracy but because we will remain united on a higher plane, united around the idea of an Australian Head of State.

You see, the idea of an "Australian Head of State" belongs to everyone, to all Australians. No one has a patent on such a dream. It's a dream that can be dreamt by each and every one of us because, ultimately, it is all about us: about who we are and where we want to go.

So Liberal or Labor, Democrat or Green, Minimalist or Direct Electionist, someone who loves politics or someone who can't stand it -- our Republic will be your Republic! We can all take ownership and all make a contribution.

At some day in the future, let each of us stand, whether it be in Stadium Australia or some other location, on an ANZAC Day or some other day of national importance and let us stand as Australians, proudly independent. Let us happily drown in that sea of green and gold, under the Aussie flag and amid the echo of Advance Australia Fair and in doing so, let us hear an address to the nation: an address by one of our own, by an "Australian Head of State".