Happy 25th Birthday, Australian Republican Movement

Today is the 25th anniversary of the Australian Republican Movement. On 7 July 1991, the Australian Republican Movement was established, with the author Tom Keneally as the Inaugural Chair. The Australian Republican Movement was formed as an organisation with the single goal of Australia becoming a republic.

The old ARM logo

Republicanism emerged as an issue of major public debate during the 1990s. In the 1990s, the popular definition of "republic" was simply the removal of the British monarch as Head of State. This was seen as the last step in Australia’s political development.

Australians have long discussed the idea of replacing the constitutional monarchy with a republican constitution, even during the 19th century, before federation in 1901. In the 1960s, republican activity was restarted by authors Geoffrey Dutton and Donald Horne. At the same time, the student magazine Oz lampooned the monarchy.

A decade on, the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam by the appointed Governor-General on 11 November 1975 outraged many Australians. The 1975 Constitutional Crisis drew attention to Australia's Constitutional arrangements and, since those turbulent days, several notable Australians declared a commitment to an Australian republic. There were many Town Hall meetings and calls to "maintain the rage". During these years, the Australian Labor Party edged towards declaring itself for the republic. This it eventually did in 1982.


The Australian Republican Movement began over lunch at the residence of the former Premier of New South Wales, Neville Wran.  In 1987, Wran had publicly stated his support for Australia becoming a republic and nominated 2001, the centenary of Australia’s federation, as an ideal date.  He said that he expected moves towards a republic would gain ground during the 1990s. Wran was supported at the time by Prime Minister Bob Hawke. On 7 July 1991, a group of prominent citizens held a meeting in Sydney to launch a republican movement under the chairmanship of author Tom Keneally and included many eminent persons from the political left and cultural centre of Australian society.

The 1991 Foundation Members of the Australian Republican Movement were Tom Keneally, the late Geoffrey Dutton, the late Professor Donald Horne, Jenny Kee, the late Franco Belgiorno-Nettis, Franca Arena, the late Faith Bandler, Mark Day, Geraldine Doogue, the late Colin Lanceley, the late Harry Seidler, Malcolm Turnbull, David Williamson and the late The Hon Neville Wran. Tom Keneally was the first Chairman and was succeeded by Malcolm Turnbull in November 1993.

On this day, 25 years after the birth of the Australian Republican Movement, Malcolm Turnbull is on a knife-edge electoral count to decide whether he will be elected for the first time by the Australian people as Prime Minister of Australia. 

Now time for #AusExit to an Australian Republic

As England firmly turns its back on the European project, and as Scotland and Northern Ireland start to wonder whether they still want to be part of the United Kingdom, Australians are loudly questioning our own relationship with England.

The Scottish and the Irish are asking the question. And so are we. Australians are asking whether it is right that the Constitution of modern, multicultural Australia should continue to be linked to the royal family of a country that is turning its back on Europe, and in some ways, the world?

Now that the English royal family represents Australia even less today than they did last week, how can we still have the English monarch as our Head of State? Now, more than ever, Australia needs a Head of State that represents Australia, and sends a message to the global community that we are a modern, multi-cultural Asia-Pacific nation. 

The best possible response to Brexit is Ausexit - to finally replace our hereditary English monarch with an Australian, whether elected by our people or appointed by our Parliament, who represents the best of us, and says to the world,  

'Everyone's welcome in Australia, mate.'

The Australian Republican Movement Chair, Peter FitzSimons has said the membership of the ARM over the past few days

“is suddenly surging once more, and did so from the very moment the vote came in."

The Australian Republican Movement argues an accelerated end to the British Monarchy in Australia will help promote our trade relationship with our second most important trading partner, Europe.

They cite statistics showing that in 2013-14, Australia’s trade relationship with the European Union was worth $83 billion, second only to trade with China at $160 billion, and that three quarters of Australia’s EU trade is from outside the United Kingdom.

Peter FitzSimons asked on the day after the British referendum

“With the British people voting to leave the European Union, what benefit is there to Australian business in continuing to have the British Monarch as our Head of State?

Australia's economic interests are best served by an Australian Head of State, promoting Australian exports in growing markets. Britain is turning its back on Europe, but modern Australia must embrace it.

Australia is a great trading nation. The European Union is Australia's second most important trading partner after China. A British Monarch is even less useful to us today than they were yesterday.

Australia's economic future should be in the hands of our own citizens - especially our highest office. We need a modern Head of State who works for us.”

The British people have a right to choose their own future. And so do we. But in making this choice, they have helped make ours much clearer. It's time for us to replace the British monarch with an Australian Head of State.