Rita Panahi takes a general swipe at the Republic other than talking up its chances once Charles takes over with his shortcomings: meddling in dubious causes and a tainted personal history all spelled out in detail. She dismisses Paul Keating’s comments about Australia being diminished by having a foreign Head of State and the Prime Minister’s listless suggestion for another – presumably voluntary – postal vote (shortcomings of the various selection models for Head of State also spelled out). She concludes by saying republicans will have to wait for King Charles “before wasting any more public money trying to change the Constitution”. [“Republic of Virtue” by Rita Panahi, Daily Telegraph, 3 January 2018]
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
