The Old Masters exhibition of 122 bark paintings at the National Museum includes “Coat of Arms” by Narritjin Maymuru painted in 1963, the only one to include non-traditional elements and a contemporary theme. It shows the joining together of British…
The PM announces in his New Year message that he will start “the conversation about a constitutional referendum to recognise the first Australians. This would complete our Constitution rather than change it.” Media outlets report that the Government intends to…
Apart from a mish-mash national identity – or no national identity at all – we can’t end the year without mentioning that old favourite ‘cultural cringe’ as captured neatly by AustraliaCulture blogger, Andrew Frost: The exhibition……”which opened in September, reminded…
Those seeking the route to the Republic by defining our national identity, would do well to pause and reflect on just how masculine that identity is. Two events from this year when “order as we know it” appeared to be…
The High Court (5 members including the Chief Justice) dismisses with costs an application that would require the Governor-General’s Office to release documents about Order of Australia nominations (see News Updates of 16 August 2013 and 25 May 2012). The…
It takes a foreigner to see this……Aung San Suu Kyi says Australians “lack passion for democratic processes and it needs to be reinvigorated. We’re just starting out on the road which you take for granted.” She also said, ” A…
In moves not seen since Joh Bjelke-Petersen was Premier, Queensland’s conservative Liberal National Party Government elected in 2012 has its skates on when it comes to embracing the British monarchy. First, it passed its own Royal Succession law refusing to…
Mark Seymour (ex Hunters and Collectors), composer for and performer in new musical play, “Dust” (about asbestos) says “I’m interested in the big Australian stories. They need to be told.” On the other hand, Karl Van Dyke from Macquarie University reflects on…
National Convenor, Sarah Brasch’s letter to The Canberra Times: “Good on the Governor-General. At the end of her final Boyer lecture, Quentin Bryce doesn’t call for a republic but foresees the progressive nation we all recognise. She holds up a…
The glittering prize from the ABC’s reporting of the Governor-General’s Boyer lecture republic comment is the release of the VoteCompass results for the republic question. People were asked their opinion on this statement: “Australia should end the monarchy and become a republic.” The data…
