Former Governor-General, Sir Zelman Cowen says that he would reluctantly support direct election if it helped Australia to break its outdated ties with the British monarchy which he describes as “incompatible with our independent status”. This is a change from his previous support for parliamentary selection of the Head of State. Sir Zelman also says in his memoirs that there needs to be “public education to promote understanding and discussion of the question: what kind of republic do we want?” (reported in The Australian). WfaAR is encouraged that this view is increasingly being raised in public discussion about the Australian Republic.
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
