18 January

The “Mate for Head of State” campaign is launched as an annual republic support day on the Sunday before Australia Day. The slogan, supported by the ARM who couldn’t see what was wrong with it, spoilt an otherwise good idea. This slogan sends completely the wrong message. Women aren’t going to vote for the Republic if they think it’s a vote for “a mate”. Our current head of state isn’t our mate and our own head of state shouldn’t be either. We are dealing with the head of the nation not the boss cocky of the local football club. Better slogans would be “Republic Now”, “Let’s Govern Ourselves” or best of all: “E-lect the Pres-i-dent”.