Let’s Recognise Australian Heroes Instead

As much of the country celebrates a well-earned long weekend, most Australians would be bemused to know that the public holiday marks the birthday of the head of our Australia, the British Monarch Queen Elizabeth. It is the second of five days in 2020 set aside to mark the Queen’s Birthday: her actual birthday on 21 April, 15 June on Norfolk Island, 28 September in Western Australia, 5 October in Queensland and 8 June in the remainder of the nation.

An Essential Media poll in May 2018 found that just one third of Australians knew the British Queen was Australia’s head of state (34%). Given the increasing irrelevance of the British Monarchy to modern Australia, the Australian Republic Movement (ARM) is calling for the public holiday to instead acknowledge Australia’s frontline heroes who make a meaningful difference to the lives of Australians every day.

Australia has been through a horrific 12 months: through catastrophic fires, floods and the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Tens of thousands of Australians have put their lives on the line to make our nation safer and protect others – they should be the ones we recognise and celebrate today” said Sandy Biar, National Director of the Australian Republic Movement.

“Firefighters, SES, nurses, doctors, police defence personnel and countless volunteers have made enormous sacrifices and been there, shoulder-to-shoulder, on the ground with those affected by recent catastrophes, often putting themselves at extreme risk to save Australian lives.

“When we raise a glass this weekend – it should be to them, not a distant monarch on the other side of the world.

“Every year that goes by demonstrates how independent we are as a nation, and it’s time our independence from the British Monarchy was reflected in Australia’s Constitution too” said Mr Biar.