ARM Media Statement - 31 March 2000

Royal visit a boost to the republican cause, says Australian Republican Movement

The visit of Australia’s Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II, was a great success for the Australia’s republican push because it highlighted the irrelevancy to Australia’s hopes, aspirations and its daily life of having a Head of State who is a foreign monarch.

The Australian Republican Movement indicated today the visit of the Queen hit home to many Australians how odd it was that in the 21st century, the nation still has as Head of State who never wants to live here, and despite Australia’s democratic institutions, is chosen by accident of birth.

The national director of the ARM, James Terrie, said: “One of the most striking aspects of the royal visit was that so many Australian were disinterested in it all - even though the Queen, as our Head of State - only visits every six or seven years.

“This hits home to us all that the monarchy is no longer relevant to a modern and forward looking country like Australia. It does not wash with Australians anymore that a very nice lady and her husband deign to come and visit us from a far away land and that we should be delighted about this.

“The Queen should be accorded respect because she our Head of State. But this visit has made it clear that the monarchy is not relevant to most Australians anymore and that we should make arrangements to ensure that an Australian - someone who lives among us and is a citizen of this country - holds the highest office in the land.”

Mr Terrie also accused the monarchists of bad taste for claiming - as the head of the monarchists, Kerry Jones, did some days ago - that the royal visit was a “victory” tour by the Queen following the defeat of the Yes case in last year’s referendum. “This is the type of crass and self serving comment we have all come to expect from Kerry Jones.

“The monarchists were at pains to tell us during last year’s referendum campaign that the Queen was apolitical, but Ms Jones has dragged Her Majesty and her family into the political fray by making the ‘victory’ comment.

“The main victory in November was for lies and dirty tricks, the only ways the monarchists could win their campaign. Ms Jones, should be ashamed of telling the Australian people last year that the Queen was not our Head of State, but then curtseying to her and acknowledging her as Australia’s Head of State during this royal visit. As usual, her audacity knows no bounds.”

Mr Terrie said applications and enquiries for membership of the Australian Republican Movement have increased markedly during the royal visit. This augurs well for republicanism in Australia, which will be further bolstered during the next few months with the launch of a restructured and re-focused Australian Republican Movement.