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…
Things got feverish when news broke that Australia’s “Head of State” would be addressing the UN. No, it wasn’t the Governor-General who would be in New York. The argument over who is Australia’s Head of State was settled for once and for all by the Buckingham Palace statement notifying that the…
A Royal vistor’s presence renews speculation about a second referendum on the Republic. Attorney-General, Robert McClelland says the Republic is an obvious question to include in the next referendum if Labor wins this years election. Other topics at the top of the list are recognition of (a) our…
Helen McCabe, Editor-in-Chief of the Women’s Weekly says that the magazine has no plans to cover William’s visit to Australia. She writes that the Prince is now much more like his father in personality lacking both sparkle and an accompanying princess. She says that…
Kristina Keneally, American born NSW Premier, is interviewed after greeting Prince William on his arrival in Sydney. Although impressed by the Prince whom she described as “charming”, she says that she is a republican.
