“I believe we must prioritise reconciliation with our Indigenous community, embrace the diversity of our multicultural society and place confidence in our nation to be a strong and independent republic” – first speech made by new Labor member for Adelaide, 27 year old Kate Ellis in the House of Representatives. Other new members elected in the 2004 federal election to support the republic in their first speeches were former ARM Chair, Malcolm Turnbull (Liberal, Wentworth NSW); Convenor of Conservatives for an Australian Head of State, Andrew Robb (Liberal, Goldstein Vic) and former Midnight Oil lead singer and conservationist, Peter Garrett (Labor, Kingsford Smith NSW). The full text of first speeches can be found on members’ sites at www.aph.gov.au, click on Who’s Who.
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
