In her Christmas message, the Queen of Australia referred to sporting and other healthy activities taking place and being encouraged on “village greens up and down the country”. No village greens, and often no green, to be seen in Australia so this could only…
1. Another European Royal Engagement should be irrelevant in Oz. Flashy smiles, Diana’s ring and hype perpetuate attachment to our colonisers (17 November) 2. So Kate, but not William, is connected to only some of us by having a convict…
Quentin Bryce got the gushes when it came to the prospect of another British Royal wedding. In her official statement of congratulations, she described the betrothal as a “unifying time” for the country. As this event really has little to do with us,…
Media coverage of the engagement of our next-but-one head of state fails to mention what’s important for Australia. In 2010,109 years after Australia’s Federation, the betrothal of the heir to the heir to the British throne should be irrelevant to us, of little more interest…
So the PM is being pressed to come up with a Vision for the country. That can only mean R for Republic – and R for Reconciliation while we are about it. We’re just marking time until we seriously embrace government by…
Sydney librarian, Helen Bersten, is announced as the co-winner of the 2010 Republican Short Story Competition for her work, “Double Lives”. Ms Bersten has been the Hononary Archivist at the Australian Jewish Historical Society for many years for which she…
The number of women on ARM’s National Council continues to decline. After this years election, there are no women elected to Council and only one official member, SA Convenor, Lyn Petrie.
WfaAR contributes to public consultation on the Anzac Centenary. We say this commemoration should be inclusive and low-key. In particular, it should be forward-looking encompassing changes like the Republic, not acting against national developments by enshrining conservatism, Britishness and the…
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has agreed with the Greens to hold referendums during the new Government’s three year term, or at the next election, on Indigenous recognition and recognition of local government in the Constitution. The prospect of referendums also holds promise for non-binding…
Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra on the eve of the election, Julia Gillard was asked what she would do in the next three years to get Australia ready for transition to a republic. Among the familiar barrage…
