Veteran Liberal Minister and the most senior one to support YES for a Republic in 1999, now broadcaster but still staunch supporter of the Republic in its most conservative form ie Australian Head of State and minimal changes to the Constitution, Amanda Vanstone discusses acknowledgements of country in advance of the Voice referendum (where they became contentious during the pre-vote debate). Prefacing her proposal, she says “Australia is spiritually an Indigenous land….to deny that is wilfully aggressive and ignorant.” She favours acknowledgements of country by non-Indigenous people (only Indigenous people make Welcomes to Country) listing what all segments of the population have built together since European settlement in 1788.
Here is her proposed wording: “I acknowledge we meet on the traditional lands of (name of nation). I acknowledge the Commonwealth of Australia of which this state/territory is a part. I acknowledge our Head of State (add name: King Charles III of the United Kingdom) and his representatives in Australia. I acknowledge and express gratitude for the system of government we all enjoy and which has given so much opportunity and freedom to so many people from across the globe. I am proud to be part of a stable, peaceful nation that can freely choose who should form a government and has the capacity to change that government should it not meet our expectations.”
As a footnote, she adds, “Being a republican, I would mention the Head of State by name because it is a healthy reminder of the need for change.”
WfaAR comment: Food for thought, we certainly agree with the bit immediately above. This is an interesting idea and tussles once again with the tension between giving high visibility to the British royals who provide our head of state and formally sit at the apex of our nine governments or ignoring them and letting them fade into the background because they pose no threat and have little to do with our day-to-day government or laws. Now 24 years since the Republic referendum, it is clear that letting the Australian monarch sail along in the UK (long way away) having little in common with or knowledge of the country and its peoples, sometimes acting on behalf of Britain against our interests and largely aloof but featuring prominently in women’s magazines and fashion stakes has not been and is not in the country’s best interests. Their real role – and how anachronistic it is – should be identified at every possible opportunity. Australian voters need to be continuously reminded that their head of state remains: “Queen Victoria, her heirs and successors”as spelled out in section 1 of our Constitution and it’s up to them to do something about it.
