With all the recent media coverage of Prince Willam visiting Australia it got me thinking more on what steps do we need to take as a nation to becoming a republic and why?
The Australian Republic Movement sums it up pretty well:
An Australian republic will embrace our egalitarianism and the concept of a fair go. It will honour and acknowledge our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and cherish its culture, with its timeless connection to the Australian land and sea. It will recognise our British heritage and acknowledge its gifts, including our political and legal institutions. An Australian republic will celebrate our immigrant heritage of opportunity and endeavour and its contribution to our national identity. It will unite all Australians behind an Australian Head of State.
You can help the Australian Republic Movement by Joining, Donating, Volunteering or Attending meetings.
We might even get another holiday out if it.
Posted by Evan on Jan 22, 2010
Australia had the opportunity to become a republic in 1999 when we had referendum.
Personally, I was disappointed only 46% of the population voted yes at the time. Many felt John Howard played a big role in the failure of the referendum by publicly expressing his support for the monarchy. But a lot of pro-republic voters also voted ‘no’ because they felt that the method proposed for electing a president was undemocratic.
Hopefully this will become an important issue again and so we can nut out the right formula to work for our country.