ARM on Commonwealth (Empire) Games

This is pretty weak response with no mention of the R word. The fact is that we won’t or won’t be required to quit the Commonwealth as 37 of the 54 members are already republics. In response to a media query ahead of this years event, Kathy Schoo, deputy chair speaking on behalf of the Australian Republican Movement organisation: “We actually don’t have a policy on it. Our view is that while we want an Australian head of state, we’re not saying that means we have to leave the Commonwealth. We can have our own head of state and remain with the Commonwealth. Australians really value our talented sporting men and women. At ARM, we would love to see an Australian head of state supporting our athletes at the Commonwealth Games and at the Olympic Games. If the Queen is there at the Commonwealth Games or Olympic Games, she’s not cheering on our athletes, she’s cheering on the British. Our point is that Australia has come of age, and that we should have a head of state of our own who represents our own values. We want a head of state that is chosen through a process that the people of Australia determine. [“Republican Movement OK with Commonwealth Games” by Daniel Cherny, Fairfax Press, 15 July 2014]