Monarchy: The Farewell Oz Tour! Let's Wave Goodbye to Royal Reign
After a thirteen-year hiatus, Monarchy is touring Down Under – and today, the Australian Republic Movement launches its campaign to Wave Goodbye to Royal Reign with Monarchy: The Farewell Oz Tour! Whilst playful in nature, the campaign is designed to inspire Australia to seriously consider the role of a ruling British monarch in a modern Australia. A reframing of the King’s visit to stir a conversation that we can all participate in – young and old.
Co-Chair Esther Anatolitis said: “While shows like Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour are always welcomed by Australian ticket-buyers, in today’s Australia democracy is not a show: we elect our representatives on merit. It’s time to Wave Goodbye to Royal Reign on what we’re calling Monarchy: The Farewell Oz Tour!
“Australians all over the continent tell us they’re keen to see a warm, positive conversation about the future of the monarchy in Australia, seeing this visit as the last tour of a king and queen of Australia. It’s time for Australia to say ‘thanks, but we’ve got it from here’.
“Australians are a richly diverse people who take pride in our democratic institutions. We expect a full-time, fully committed Head of State whose only allegiance is to us – a unifying symbol at home and abroad.”
“This is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to invite all Australians to ask why our contemporary democracy is still headed by a king. We encourage all Australians to join the conversation using the hashtag #FarewellOzTour.”
Co-Chair Nathan Hansford said: “Our research shows 92% of Australians are either supporters of a republic or are open to it. Only 8% of the country are rusted-on supporters of the monarchy.”
“Research commissioned by the Australian Republic Movement shows a staggering 40% of those surveyed didn’t know that the British Monarch is in fact also Australia’s Monarch. However, when informed, they overwhelmingly called for change: for a local to be elected as our Head of State.
“When it comes to Royal Visits, 78% of Australians believe that the Royal Family – not Australian taxpayers – should foot the bill for travel to Australia. While Aussies are struggling to pay their own bills, this week we will host our billionaire British Monarch and we will be slugged with the bill for their once-in-a-decade holiday Down Under.
“60% of Australians say they’d prefer an Australian Head of State to King Charles III. Australians want a Commander-in-Chief, an Advocate-in-Chief, a Promoter-in-Chief, a Champion-in-Chief, a Guardian-in-Chief and a Representative-in-Chief. They want a republic which stays in the Commonwealth, retains economic and defence alliances like AUKUS, and makes minimal changes to our current system. Together, we can achieve all of that – and we encourage all Aussies to get involved in the conversation.”
Find out more about the tour at www.republic.org.au/tour.
Background
For the first time in over a decade, a sitting monarch is visiting Australia.
The Australian Republic Movement is changing the conversation.
40% of Australians don’t realise that London-based King Charles III is Australia’s Head of State. He was never elected, endorsed or appointed; he landed the gig by birthright and it’s his for life, before being passed onto William, George and their heirs.
Australia’s constitutional monarchy can be difficult to understand. So it’s time to change the conversation – and time to give the royal wave goodbye.
With thanks to our campaign partners at Bureau of Everything, we’ve created a bold, tongue-in-cheek campaign that resets the conversation about the future of the monarchy in Australia.
It’s time for Australia to say ‘thanks, but we’ve got it from here’.
Expect to see big names leading our new conversation all over Australia as we wave goodbye to royal reign.
Campaign Materials for Download
Co-Chair Esther Anatolitis in Campaign Shirt Image