Australian Republic takes to the street on Australia Day

Right across the country this Australia Day, the Australian Republic Movement is taking to the streets with the message loud and clear that Australia is well and truly ready to stand on its own two feet with its own Australian head of state.

Australians are proud of their country and what it means to be an Australian. Australia has emerged as a prosperous and independent nation in so many ways. Yet it still carries the embarrassment of having a head of state that fails to reflect the modern, diverse and independent country we’ve become.  This Australia Day the Australian Republic Movement (ARM)  is calling on all Australians to proudly declare to put our nation and its people first and support the campaign to have a head of state who can do the same.

Australia Day is a crucial time to build momentum around the campaign for an Australian republic. Historically, it has coincided with a surge in ARM membership, national reflection about what it means to be an Australian and renewed support for an Australian republic.

Two years ago today,then Prime Minister Tony Abbott almost united the nation with his decision to mark Australia Day by his infamous “captain’s pick” knighthood of the Queen’s consort Prince Philip. Between waving away flies at a traditional barbecue, the nation was united in scratching its head in wonder and asking: what the ...?

On Australia Day last year, the nation’s premiers and chief ministers again united the nation, in calling for an Australian to be our head of state. This time around, there was no need to scratch heads or ask why. Indeed, it was a hard-to-argue proposition and time to ask why not? Why doesn’t this nation – apparently, the most egalitarian on the planet – allow one of its own to be head of state?

This Australia Day, the ARM is taking to the streets across Australia, including at Commonwealth Park in Canberra, Federation Square in Melbourne, Southbank in Brisbane, Circular Quay in Sydney, as well as in Perth, encouraging Australians to declare their commitment to Australia and its people above all others — something the British Queen, despite being Australia’s head of state, could never do.

Goodwill Bridge, Brisbane. Australia Day 2017

 The political landscape in Australia is definitely changing. The push for a republic has gone from strength to strength in recent years with support from a resurgent membership, the majority of federal parliamentarians, the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

On Australia Day 2016, Australia's premiers and chief ministers made public declarations supporting an Australian head of state. The Prime Minister, Federal Opposition Leader, six premiers and the Chief Justice are now all declared republicans. The ARM has now confirmed most Federal MPs and senators want to ditch the monarchy.

It’s a great time to be a republican in Australia. If there was any doubt, it is now clear that there is political consensus on the question of an Australian republic. Make no mistake, the ARM is back in business. With majority support in both houses of the Federal Parliament, Bill Shorten ready to go and the PM announcing his road map to an Australian head of state, it’s full steam ahead.

Australia Day 2017 for the ARM is all about taking the case for an Australian head of state to a new audience. We're asking our members and supporters to pledge their allegiance to Australia over all others (unlike our politicians, who must pledge their allegiance to the Queen).

It’s super easy; all you need to do is go to declare.republic.org.au

So this Australia Day, before you tuck into your lamb chops (or vegetarian sausages), please take a moment to consider that Australia should have a head of state that is one of us.
Better still, once you've signed the pledge, mention it around the BBQ and see if you can't convince another five of your friends and family to do the same.

It appears the points of the Southern Cross are coming into alignment.