During the federal election campaign, the Greens announce a new proposal for a network of citizens’ forums to help formulate a threshold question on whether we should become a Republic. If that vote was successful, a national convention would work on a constitutional model to be put to the people at a referendum in 2019. This contrasts with our pro-republic Prime Minister’s stance that has moved through four distinct stages since 2007. Firstly, “not until the Queen dies”, secondly ” the pressure to change has to come from the grassroots” (mid 2015), thirdly: “the country has more important priorities” (Australia Day 2016) and finally: “we can only run another referendum when we are sure we can win” (election campaign June 2016). It’s not encouraging and always shifting the onus away from federal politicians to take any initiative, leadership or responsibility, the same-sex marriage plebiscite being instructive in this respect.
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
