During the Senate debate on the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Broadcasting Reform) Bill 2017, we hear Pauline Hanson’s latest views on the Republic, “The ABC receives over $1 billion a year from the Australian taxpayer. We are not all left-wing bleeding hearts wanting to open our borders to illegals and refugees. We are not all supporters of gay marriage. We are not all supporters of corrupt unions and socialist agendas. We are not all supporters of becoming a republic. And we are definitely not all supporters of destroying our Australian identity, culture and way of life to continue the push for multiculturalism and forever saying sorry.” (direct quote from Senate Hansard). Pleased to see that PHON has republicans bracketed with progressive politics and causes. WfaAR notes that in the lead up to the 1999 referendum, Ms Hanson was ambivalent about a Republic saying it wouldn’t do much to change ordinary people’s lives and there were higher priorities.
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
