Australian Republican Movement
Encyclopedia
The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) is a non-partisan lobby group advocating constitutional change in Australia to a republic
an form of government, from a constitutional monarchy.
's adoption of republicanism as a policy at its conference in June of that year.
The ARM's first chairman was the novelist Thomas Keneally
, with other founding members including the investment banker (and later Federal Opposition Leader) Malcolm Turnbull
, the former Australia
n cricket captain, Ian Chappell
, and the film director Fred Schepisi. It is currently headed by retired Major-General Michael Keating.
In 1993, the Republic Advisory Committee was created by the Keating
Labor government, the Committee laid the foundations for proposed Constitutional change.
by Parliament
, and those who favoured direct election by the people. This led to Australian voters rejecting at a referendum in 1999 a constitutional amendment to a specific form of republic described by some as the "minimalist" model because it involved the least change to the constitution of the various republican models proposed.
They propose a three-stage process:
, an alliance of Commonwealth
republican movements, each seeking to change their country's status as a Commonwealth Realm
s to Commonwealth republic
s. The ARM is not associated with any political party.
Republicanism in Australia
Republicanism in Australia is a movement to change Australia's status as a constitutional monarchy to a republican form of government. Such sentiments have been expressed in Australia from before federation onward to the present...
an form of government, from a constitutional monarchy.
Foundation
The ARM was founded in July 1991, following the Australian Labor PartyAustralian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
's adoption of republicanism as a policy at its conference in June of that year.
The ARM's first chairman was the novelist Thomas Keneally
Thomas Keneally
Thomas Michael Keneally, AO is an Australian novelist, playwright and author of non-fiction. He is best known for writing Schindler's Ark, the Booker Prize-winning novel of 1982 which was inspired by the efforts of Poldek Pfefferberg, a Holocaust survivor...
, with other founding members including the investment banker (and later Federal Opposition Leader) Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2004, and was Leader of the Opposition and parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party from 16 September 2008 to 1 December 2009.Turnbull has represented the Division...
, the former Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n cricket captain, Ian Chappell
Ian Chappell
Ian Michael Chappell is a former cricketer who played for South Australia and Australia. He captained Australia between 1971 and 1975 before taking a central role in the breakaway World Series Cricket organisation...
, and the film director Fred Schepisi. It is currently headed by retired Major-General Michael Keating.
In 1993, the Republic Advisory Committee was created by the Keating
Paul Keating
Paul John Keating was the 24th Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 1991 to 1996. Keating was elected as the federal Labor member for Blaxland in 1969 and came to prominence as the reformist treasurer of the Hawke Labor government, which came to power at the 1983 election...
Labor government, the Committee laid the foundations for proposed Constitutional change.
1999 referendum
Although opinion polls showed that many Australians favoured becoming a republic, divisions emerged in the Movement between those who favoured indirect election of the PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
by Parliament
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
, and those who favoured direct election by the people. This led to Australian voters rejecting at a referendum in 1999 a constitutional amendment to a specific form of republic described by some as the "minimalist" model because it involved the least change to the constitution of the various republican models proposed.
Policy
The ARM seeks to bring about an Australian republic through two plebiscites and a referendum, providing the population direct input to any decision on a republic.They propose a three-stage process:
- A non-binding plebiscite on the threshold question of do you want Australia to become a republic with an Australian Head of State?
- A second plebiscite on the form of a republic including the selection method (following the full development of forms of a republic, including the selection method, by experts).
- A referendum offering a choice between adopting the form of republic approved by the second plebiscite or remaining a constitutional monarchy.
Arguments
The ARM argues that Australia should become a Republic with the Australian head of state (currently Elizabeth II) an Australian citizen and resident.Affiliations
The ARM is a member of Common CauseCommon Cause (alliance)
Common Cause is an alliance of four republican political organisations in the Commonwealth of Nations seeking to remove the Monarchy in each realm and replace it with a Republic, with an elected Head of State.As of May 2008, the four members are:...
, an alliance of Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
republican movements, each seeking to change their country's status as a Commonwealth Realm
Commonwealth Realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 134 million, of which all, except about two million, live in the six...
s to Commonwealth republic
Commonwealth republic
A republic in the Commonwealth of Nations is any one of the 33 sovereign states of the Commonwealth of Nations with a republican form of government...
s. The ARM is not associated with any political party.
See also
- Republicanism in AustraliaRepublicanism in AustraliaRepublicanism in Australia is a movement to change Australia's status as a constitutional monarchy to a republican form of government. Such sentiments have been expressed in Australia from before federation onward to the present...
- Australian republic referendum, 1999Australian republic referendum, 1999The Australian republic referendum held on 6 November 1999 was a two-question referendum to amend the Constitution of Australia. The first question asked whether Australia should become a republic with a President appointed by Parliament following a bi-partisan appointment model which had...
- Australian Constitutional History
- Australians for Constitutional MonarchyAustralians for Constitutional MonarchyAustralians for Constitutional Monarchy is a group that aims to preserve Australia's current constitutional monarchy, with Elizabeth II as Queen of Australia...