A timely reminder of the complexities of the change to an Australian Republic is contained in James Boyce’s article in this months edition of The Monthly. An historian and associate of the University of Tasmania, Boyce sets out the history of allegiance to…
Before the actual day – and time for the annual soul-searching about Indigenous and colonial history soon forgotten – comes this thoughtful article from Professor Maggie Walter, Pro Vice Chancellor and Professor of Sociology at the University of Tasmania. She concludes: “Australia, first change the date to…
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…
The new republican year gets off to a bright start on the very first day. With the release of 1994-95 Cabinet documents, ALP opposition leader during the lead-up to the 1999 republic referendum, Kim Beazley, is quizzed about the republic Cabinet submissions. In an interview on…
ARM announces a Republican Advisory Panel, a first for the organisation. Half the sixteen members are women. Among the well-known republican identities from academia, sport and business are Louise Adler; Larissa Behrendt; Marina Go; Catherine Harris; Helen Irving; Jane Needham; Kim Rubenstein and Clare Wright. For more…
Building on the success of the same sex marriage voluntary vote with its nearly 80 percent participation rate, Katharine Murphy says that the people saved the day. Two paragraphs of her Guardian analysis stand out: “I was struck by the fact that…
WfaAR couldn’t help hearing that the conclusion to the lengthy vote to introduce the same sex marriage legislation in the House of Representatives was a rousing rendition of “I am, you are, we are Aus-tra-lian” ringing from the both the public gallery and…
We were invited to talk to the ALP’s new Shadow Minister for an Australian Head of State to add the women’s perspective to Labor’s first concrete steps towards voting for a Republic (see also News Item for 24 October 2017 about Matt’s appointment). The discussion…
Today came news of Prince Harry’s engagement. By midnight, it made up the top three stories on ABC online. The next day, regular prime-time programming on the ABC was disrupted to show the live BBC interview. Hearing Harry describe Meghan Markle, three years…
At the end of the successful defence of the women’s Ashes cricket against England – and on the eve of the start to the men’s Ashes series – WfaAR sees very good use for this season’s slogan #BEATENGLAND in the Republic campaign. Cricket isn’t the…
