WfaAR says that the Prime Minister is uninformed about the process republican groups propose to move forward, to quote Julia Gillard’s central campaign slogan. The people will be involved when given their chance to express their opinions on all aspects of the Republic. That requires an act of political leadership…
At the National Press Club in Canberra, Julia Gillard is asked about the Republic. She said “where the republic debate went wrong was that it became too much about what people like me think and not enough about what the…
Professor Larissa Behrendt of UTS Sydney says three rights should be added to the Constitution: due process before the law; equality; and freedom from racial discrimination. She also says that the current Constitution doesn’t protect basic human rights even though most people think that it…
The second Republic Short Story competition has been announced. There is a $500 prize for the winning entry on the theme of “Life and Death in an Australian Republic”. Entries close on 31 August. Contact: fiction@republic.org.au More info > Download: Competition Info and Entry Form [95KB, pdf]
New Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, supports the Australian Republic. Being in favour is one thing, doing something about it is quite another. So far, Ms Gillard has not shown any enthusiasm for the Republic even though she has been a leading member of the government since 2007 (see News item of 21 January 2010). …
In an article on the Queen’s Birthday weekend, Stephanie Peatling writes in the SMH that the Liberal Party is actively talking to republicans about proposed changes to the Constitution even though the Opposition Leader,Tony Abbott, is a fervent monarchist. Joe Hockey, the Shadow Treasurer and…
ABC newsreader and journalist, Virginia Haussegger, speaks at the annual ARM dinner in Canberra. Virginia links the push for a Republic with a desire for national identity, particularly among Anglo-Celtic Australians, comparing their lack of belonging with the strong cultural identity of Indigenous people. She…
The Government announces that it will not proceed with a Charter of Rights following the National Human Rights Consultation. Submissions to the Inquiry were overwhelmingly in favour of the Charter. It had been assumed that further progress on the Republic referendum would follow a positive…
Lee Rhiannon thinks so. The Greens Member of the NSW Legislative Council gives us her reasons in this speech. Lee was elected as a NSW Senator for a six-year term starting July 2011 at the 2010 federal election. More info >
Senator Bob Brown’s Republic Plebiscite Bill (see News item of 29 April 2009) for a referendum at the time of the next federal electon due by April 2011 has not been listed on the Senate business list and is highly unlikely to appear this year. Listing depends…
