AusRepublic Updates
Welcome to the first edition of AusRepublic Updates: the ARM’s new newsletter for members and supporters.
AusRepublic Updates will streamline our member and supporter communications, putting everything into one convenient and user-friendly place. Inside you’ll find excerpts and links to content on our website for updates on the campaign, event briefs and upcoming events lists, media releases and stories, and other relevant links and information.
We hope you’ll find it informative and share it with your friends and family!
National Director’s Report
The year has started with the Australian republic firmly on the agenda.
The ARM’s leadership has done a stack of interviews for print, tv, radio and online, with the discussion focused on plans for 2024 and the way forward to a referendum.
And of course, we’ve been discussing the October visit of the King and Queen of Australia – Charles and Camilla. We send our best wishes to Charles, in light of his recent diagnosis, and we hope that his trip down under still goes ahead. Anne is the only royal to visit Australia in the 2020s. Andrew visited in 2019, but it’s been six years since Charles and Camilla stepped foot on Australian shores. It’s been a decade since his son, our future King, William visited in 2014.
We’ve welcomed the visit because it’s a great opportunity for Australians to consider our current system of government and better alternatives. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for Aussies to have a good look at the British royals and ask – do they really represent modern Australia?
Charles has spent time travelling to France and Germany, among others, promoting Britain and its industry, trade and tourism. He is the King of the United Kingdom and his advocacy for the UK is a major part of his role – and that’s great they can have him. We need our own local to do the same for us. To stand as an equal and celebrate and promote our economy, our people, our trade and our nation on the world stage.
In 2024, we want to have a conversation with Aussies. We want to talk about a republic and see what Aussies think. We want to listen to their thoughts and incorporate them into a model for a future Aussie republic – the People’s Model.
And, we want to build on the growing support for a republic. The Daily Telegraph recently had support at 52%, while the Mercury in Tasmania noted almost 60% support for a republic. The ARM’s latest research has solid support for the Monarchy at only 8%, meaning people are either on board with the republic or very much open to it.
To kickstart the conversation, we’ve updated our website with a number of points on what the republic could look like. It’s a simple proposition.
Head of State:
An Aussie
Elected by Aussies
Five-year fixed terms (max. two terms)
Acts on advice from the government
Ceremonial with limited defined powers ensuring smooth operation of parliament and government
No political mandate
Commander-in-Chief
Full-time and fully committed to Australia
Accountable, transparent and answerable to the people
Not a US-Style, executive president
Republic:
Stay in the Commonwealth
Keep AUKUS and defence alliances
Keep economic partnerships
Keep the prime minister, cabinet, parliament, rule of law, responsible government and Westminster system
Write prime minister into the Constitution and define powers
Prime minister will stay as the head of the government, responsible for policy and day-to-day politics and administration of the country
Oaths and affirmations of office sworn to Australia, our people, Constitution and laws - not to a foreign King
But we want to hear from Aussies. Our national tour will focus on testing these ideas with the people to develop the People’s Model for an Australian republic. The People’s Model will then be presented to the full Parliament, before hopefully going to the people for endorsement as early as 2026/2027.
To make this happen we need your support. Campaigns are expensive and costs are only increasing. We need significant contributions to fund the tour, engagement with Aussies and subsequent referendum campaign – and to prepare for Charles and Camilla’s visit. Now is the time to invest in the Australian Republic Movement as a vehicle to create a stronger democracy.
Whether you’ve got a small or large amount to contribute, every cent will be put towards our shared goal of a united Australian republic – and it is gratefully accepted.
We’ve also created a new Silver membership class. So if you’re in our concession or standard memberships, please consider upgrading to Silver or Gold to help us deliver the campaign. If you’re not a member or have friends and family who aren’t members, please consider joining and asking them to join ARM. To upgrade, please login to the Members Portal or contact membership@republic.org.au.
Thank you for your ongoing membership and support. Together we can make this happen, so get involved, start a conversation with friends and family, and contribute today!
Regards,
Isaac Jeffrey
National Director & CEO
Australian Republic Movement
News from your region
👋 You’re invited: Queensland Branch Council Meeting
The Queensland Branch Council is inviting all member and supporters to a campaign meeting from 6.30pm - 8pm (Brisbane time) on the 26th of February. The meeting will be held online on Zoom.
The meeting will be a general catch up with everyone in Queensland where we will go over our plans for the next year.
We encourage members from outside of Brisbane to attend as they generally miss out when it comes to our physical meetings.
This year we are focused on forming sub-branches (forums) within areas of Queensland that do not have the same representation that Brisbane does.
We have already earmarked some good leadership potential in Toowoomba, Townsville, Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast, however we still have many places to cover - and we want to fill out those sub-branches with people passionate about the movement.
If you are interested we would encourage you to come along and RSVP using the link below.
👋 Newcastle call out
We’re looking for members of the Australian Republic Movement who are based in Newcastle and surrounding areas to register their interest in a local chapter for republic supporters.
If that’s you, please email nsw@republic.org.au to get involved.
Interested in establishing a local group in your area? If you’d like to help with for meetups or events, reach out to NSW Convenor Graham Cooke on the above email.
👋 Update from Tasmania
The Tasmanian Branch Council was delighted by the results of the Mercury newspaper’s ‘Big Issues Survey’ which showed that 59.33 per cent of Tasmanian Mercury readers replied yes (and 40.67 per cent said no) when asked if they thought it was time for Australia to become a republic. When asked if they supported the Monarchy and King Charles, 58.31% gave a resounding ‘NO’ reply.
The Tassie Branch intends to build on these numbers by holding Politics in the Pub/Park discussions, convincing people and politicians that this issue is NOT dead.
We do want to become a republic. We just have to agree on an Australian way to do it. The Tassie Branch council meets on the last Thursday of every month from 4 – 6pm. All enquiries welcome. Please email Tasmanian Convenor Wendy Le Cornu for more information at tas@republic.org.au.
👋 Multicultural Festival Update
Over the past few months, the ACT Branch has been busy organising a stall for the National Multicultural Festival (NMF). The NMF is one of the big annual events (the other being Floriade) that the ACT Branch focuses on, with the ARM having a presence on Sunday 18 February. Hosting a stall at the NMF in the past has led to thousands of engagements with people from Canberra and from much further afield. It has always been a great opportunity to speak with members of the multitude of multicultural communities represented or attending the festival.
The festival is held over three days every February (unless a pandemic intervenes!) and the ACT Branch usually has a stall on the Sunday, which has a larger focus on community groups. In 2023 the total attendance over the three days of the festival was over 380,000 and had representation from more than 170 cultures in Australia’s largest celebration of cultural diversity.
The ACT Branch welcome you to tell your undecided friends about us, so that they may visit the stall and have a chat about what it means to have one of us as our representative on a global scale! This year we will be in Bunda Street – section H, stall H33 (see map). It’s always great to see supporters and even better to convince more to join the cause!
This year Executive members of the Australian Republic Movement will be in attendance for part of the day, including Co-Chair Craig Foster, National Director & CEO Isaac Jeffrey and myself (Nathan Hansford, Treasurer, Secretary & ACT Convenor). So in between a Sri Lankan curry, a German bratwurst or a Czech beer, please come along and say hi.
Looking forward to seeing you all there.
Nathan Hansford
ACT Branch Convenor
women’s network news
‘Invest in women: accelerate progress’ is the theme for 2024 UN International Women’s Day. The ARM has done just that by enshrining Co-Chair in its Constitution - and a male co-chair of the ARM Parliamentary Friendship Group for an Australian Head of State said in 2023 that it will be women who will lead the charge to having an Australian as our Head of State.
The ARM Women’s Network (WN) is a means to accelerate this process. Working within the ARM’s Strategic Plan and the Branch Councils, the WN provides a space for women of the ARM and Australia to be included in the discourse and advocacy and to be active with women for women.
Started in 2002 by a former Senator Susan Ryan, it has evolved over the years. It has been particularly active from 2016 under the leadership of Allison Henry and Angela Wilson before I came on board. Ange gave a big shout out to the republic on Hard Quiz recently.
The Network has embraced the concept of inclusion investing in women by developing a Women’s Network Management Group (WNMG) a drawn from the Branch Councils and those women elected to the National Committee (NC).
To date, this year, the WNMG includes: Amy Winter (Qld), Fiona Perry (ACT), Liz Walker (Vic), Mary Phillips (Tas), Raphael Murphy (SA) and Megan Allan (WA).
NSW will appoint a rep at its February Branch Council meeting.
Women from the NC are still deliberating - most are on the ARM Executive. Clare Martin, NT Branch Convenor, would love to be joined by a woman/women from the NT.
A big thanks to the women of the ARM that responded to the WNMG survey in 2023. The WNMG will progress the outcomes and consider how women can best support the implementation of the ARM Strategic Plan.
All ARM women are invited to contribute - through your branch council rep and to the WNMG via the National Convenor at womensnetwork@republic.org.au
We look forward to hearing from you.
Women’s Network National Convenor
P.S. We’re planning an event for mid-way through the year that will include all members and supporters of the ARM. Watch this space.
Media updates
✅ Enter the year of the Dragon
The Australian Republic Movement has joined the millions of Australians celebrating the Lunar New Year – 2024 The Year of the Dragon.
✅ Well wishes for King Charles
The Australian Republic Movement wishes the King well following his cancer diagnosis.
National Director and CEO Isaac Jeffrey said: “A statement released overnight by Buckingham Palace announced the King of Australia has been diagnosed with cancer. This is an incredibly challenging and private time for any family.”
“I thank the King for raising public awareness and hope it encourages more people to get regular check-ups.”
✅ Strewth what a flamin’ good country we’ve got here!
The Australian Republic Movement has joined the nation in celebrating Australia Day.
National Director and CEO Isaac Jeffrey said: “Australia Day is a time for us to celebrate our nation and the people, the places, the wildlife and the things which make us truly unique.
“I acknowledge ongoing debates about the date, but it is our national day and a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come as a nation and as a people. We should feel immense pride in our nation and deeply proud to belong here. Whether you’ve got connections to the land and waters through 65,000 years of ancestral ties, your family was chained below decks and sent to a penal colony on the other side of the world or you’ve chosen to call Australia home, we’ve all got one thing in common – we are all Aussies.”
✅ Queen Mary: Stuff of Medieval Fairytales not Modern Representation
The Australian Republic Movement has today acknowledged the ascension of Frederik and Mary to the Danish throne.
National Director and CEO Isaac Jeffrey said: “Many Australians will feel joy in seeing a local Tassie girl becoming Queen after marrying her handsome Prince, who overnight became King of Denmark. It’s the stuff of fairytales with the gowns and jewels, glitz and glamour to boot. But just like a children’s book, it might be fun to read and look at the pictures, but it’s a long way from how modern stable democracies should choose their representatives.
“Mary seems like a great person, someone who could have risen through the ranks of any organisation or of society to become a leader in her own right. It’s a pity she had to leave Australia to become Head of State. Under an Australian republic, a young girl from Tassie could one day rise to become our Aussie Head of State – a position forever blocked to her while we default to the British Monarch.
“Regardless of how you feel about Mary or Charles, it’s not surprising to see questions arising throughout the world about the role of Monarchs in our societies. As Aussies, Danes and Brits tap their credit cards at the checkout, borrowing for their weekly shop, they see their leaders, their representatives living lives of luxury. Luxury built on the hard work and toil of others. Luxury gifted by marriage and birthright. Luxury inherited, not earned. It’s no wonder people are questioning why these chosen few should be given such privilege and wealth, while the rest of us have to work hard just to make ends meet.
✅ Politics should be left out of republic debate
The Voice to Parliament campaign will be studied for years, but what’s clear is both sides failed our nation – regardless of their good intentions.
Why? Because US-style politics has crept into Australia and was embraced by the campaigns. You’re either with us or against us. If you’re against us we’ll try to destroy, not only your argument, but your career, reputation and future.
Vote no – you’re a “dinosaur or a dickhead”. Vote Yes – you’re an “elite with hidden agendas” or “un-Australian”.
The Voice and the '99 republic campaigns failed on similar issues: partisanship; attacks labelling it as an elites’ model; distraction, fear and doubt; denigration; ego and bias.
Issues created by both sides of the campaigns.
✅ What could an Australian republic look like?
National conversations have started on a future republic referendum, so we wanted to join the debate to discuss what an Australian republic could look like and how the people can shape it.
National Director and CEO Isaac Jeffrey said: “People are at the heart of a republic. It’s about putting choice in their hands. The model and timing of a referendum should be co-designed with the Australian people. It should be the People’s Model – not ARM’s, not the politicians’.”
“ARM will help facilitate the development of the People’s Model throughout 2024. We will be hosting events throughout Australia this year to genuinely debate the idea of an Australian republic and everything that entails. These events will take place from the beaches to the bush, the city to the country, online and in-person around Australia. They’ll be open to all Australians regardless of whether you support, are unsure or currently oppose a republic.”
“We want to make sure we get it right and consider all views, because we are all in this together and we all want a happy, healthy, stable and secure country for our children’s future.”