A new YouGov poll reported in today’s Daily Telegraph found that 62 per cent of Australians want Australia’s Head of State to be an Australian.
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As much of the country celebrates a well-earned long weekend, most Australians would be bemused to know that the public holiday marks the birthday of the head of our Australia, the British Monarch Queen Elizabeth. It is the second of five days in 2020 set aside to mark the Queen’s Birthday: her actual birthday on 21 April, 15 June on Norfolk Island, 28 September in Western Australia, 5 October in Queensland and 8 June in the remainder of the nation.
An Essential Media poll in May 2018 found that just one third of Australians knew the British Queen was Australia’s head of state (see Appendix A). Given the increasing irrelevance of the British Monarchy to modern Australia, the Australian Republic Movement (ARM) is calling for the public holiday to instead acknowledge Australia’s frontline heroes who make a meaningful difference to the lives of Australians every day.
Read MoreThe Australian Republic Movement welcomed the High Court decision today to release 211 ‘Palace Letters’ - correspondence between the Governor-General and Buckingham Palace during the controversial dismissal of the Whitlam Government.
Buckingham Palace had previously vetoed the release of the correspondence until 2027 and fought to keep the letters secret, citing the potential for damage to the UK-Australian relationship and the relationship of the Queen with her representatives in Australia if they were released.
Read MoreToday the Australian Republic Movement (ARM) is embarking on a new historic chapter in Australia’s campaign for independence from the British Monarchy, through the launch of its new national strategy.
The strategy proposes the ARM adopt a clearly articulated proposal for constitutional reform by building on the common ground that already exists between supporters of a republic. A national consultation over the next 18-24 months will inform the development of the reform model and work to build consensus among supporters, the broader community and the Federal Parliament. Once that consensus has been achieved, the ARM will campaign for the model proposal to be taken directly to a referendum.
Read MoreThe Australian Republic Movement (ARM) has welcomed the announcement from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that they’re planning to step back from the British Monarchy and go their own way, and offered them Life Membership of the ARM.
“They’ve effectively said they’ve outgrown the British Monarchy, and we in Australia can certainly relate to that.”
Read MoreThis inquiry goes to the heart of what we at the Australian Republic Movement are campaigning for – reform to give more Australians a say and include them in the important decisions affecting them – in particular when it comes to the question of who represents them as Australia’s Head of State. For too long, the most senior role in Australia’s Constitution, our Head of State has been restricted to a family on the other side of the world, with little relevance or meaningful connection to Australia.
Ensuring our Head of State adequately represents Australians, and that Australians feel they are being served by them, should be of paramount interest to any examination of citizenship, civics education, allegiance to Australia and democratic participation.
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We strongly believe that the method for the selection of our Head of State works against the promotion of democratic participation, inclusion and the development of a cohesive national identity. If the most senior role in our national Constitution does not live up to the standards and values that Australians hold deeply, then we cannot expect Australians to feel represented by them and have ownership as citizens over them. Parliamentarians, judges, members of the Australian Defence Force and other such positions that require an oath should swear an allegiance to those they serve: Australians. Until such a time as constitutional and legislative reform to correct these inconsistencies has been achieved, there will be an ongoing democratic deficit in our Constitution and our nation.
Read MoreThe Australian Republic Movement was deeply saddened to hear of the death of former Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Tim Fischer, AC today.
His life is a story of personal sacrifice and tireless service to his country. From serving in Vietnam, to serving the nation in state and Federal parliaments for 26 years, his humble, intensely warm yet passionate demeanour endeared him to all he met.
Read MoreA new poll conducted by Dynata over 1-3 June 2019 shows that support for an Australian republic has surged to 57% for under 25 year olds and opposition continues to fall away, with fewer than one in seven people under 35 now opposed.
Read MoreThe Australian Republic Movement warmly congratulates Harry and Meghan on the birth of their son, and all Australians who welcomed a child into the world today.
Baby Sussex is the 7th in line for the British throne, behind Prince Harry, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William and Prince Charles, making him unlikely to ever rule over Australians.
We look forward to when our head of state is chosen by Australians, and on merit, instead of birth right. An Australian republic will mean that each child born today can grow up aspiring to the top job- regardless of their family, social status or wealth.
Read MoreThe Australian Republic Movement has launched a new online campaign to give young Australians a say in our future. An informative new video – “Inferior because you’re Australian” [ https://youtu.be/KbFhRT53CfY] – will be promoted online from today.
Read MoreThe Australian Republic Movement has announced the election of Angela Wilson as its new women's convenor. Ms Wilson will also join the movement’s National Executive, with a key role steering the campaign to a national vote within three years.
Read MoreAustralians should have had more say about who will be the next – and, we hope, last – Governor-General appointed by a British monarch to represent him or her in Australia.
It’s bad enough that Prime Minister Morrison had to ask a British monarch for permission to announce David Hurley as her representative in Australia.
What’s worse is he did not have to ask any of us. Australians should have more say in decisions like this.
Read Moreairfax mastheads today report that the Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has agreed to funding during the next term of Parliament for a national vote on an Australian republic. We welcome Labor’s leadership.
Australia’s next head of state should be a citizen of Australia, chosen by Australians. But without change, no Australian will even be asked, and King Charles will be Australia’s next head of state. So today’s announcement is a huge step forward for Australia.
Read MoreThe Prime Minister should immediately guarantee the next Governor-General will be a citizen of Australia and should also rule out a 'captain's call' on the next Governor-General.
Monarchist boss David Flint – who advised former PM Tony Abbott to revive knighthoods, leading to the ‘Sir Prince Phillip’ fiasco – now says Australia’s next Governor-General should be an English royal, The Duke of Sussex - not an Australian citizen.
Read MoreThere is no place in modern Australia for institutions that divide us on religious grounds. Australian citizens, of any faith and no faith, are all equal here. Republic supporters believe that our constitution and laws should reflect this.
Australian Monarchists clearly disagree, however.
Read More“We can’t have this lingering deathwatch.”
The Queen has had her say. Australians should now have theirs.
Authoritative reports from senior royal reporter and author Robert Hardman reveal that Queen Elizabeth II dismisses the idea Australia should wait until after her death to become a republic with an Australian head of state.
Independent research confirms young Australians know the difference between enjoying a royal visit and voting for an Australian republic.
In every age group, more people agree that Australia should become a republic with an Australian as head of state than disagree.
And opposition to a republic is weakest among young people.
Read MoreAustralians were misled by a spokesman for Prince Charles in April this year - and now we know the truth and the price. A spokesman for the royals said the sojourn down south was a private visit “at no cost to the taxpayer”.
We now know that was not true.
Read MoreAustralia should replace royal birthdays with a public holiday of our own.
In 2019, Australian governments should join together with a new ‘Citizens Day’ holiday in
September to strengthen Australian citizenship. This could build on existing activities for the
anniversary of the Australian Citizenship Act in September 1948.
Read MoreThe Prime Minister should immediately rule out a 'captain's call' on the next Governor-General.
Media reports speculating that former Foreign Minister Bishop might be considered for the role and represent the Queen in Canberra reinforce the worst perception that Australia is in decline from a parliamentary democracy to a spoils system.
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