Senator Andrew Bartlett
Saturday, January 29, 2005
 
Notes on a Republic
A few stories have appeared in various places on the republic issue, as tends to happen around Australia Day.

A lot was made in some media about the latest Newspoll showing a decline in support for Australia becoming a Republic compared to polls from the last few years. The new poll had 46% of voters definitely in favour and 35% against – with 19% uncommitted. This was described as indicating a lack of interest from the public and a problem for the Republican movement. Given that John Howard got 46% of the primary vote at the recent election (where by definition there were 0% uncommitted respondents) and was seen to have a thumping victory, I am quite comfortable with 46% support for a Republic at a time when it’s not even on the political agenda.

There are only two things holding Australia back from the gains that moving to a Republic will bring, but they are both significant. The first is getting a Prime Minister who understands that becoming a Republic will benefit Australia and is actually willing to show leadership in support of it. For all his talk about modernising our economy, John Howard continues to refuse to allow our nation to modernise our place in the world. The second is getting sufficient public support for a particular model for a Republic.

The first problem will disappear with time. The second will be much more difficult.

I must admit (a bit shamefacedly) that right up until the process for the Republic referendum was being initiated, I would have put myself in the uncommitted category, or to be more precise the ‘who gives a toss’ category. It wasn’t until the debate started in the community and I started hearing some of the ridiculous and insulting arguments put forward by the monarchists that I got committed to the issue. Once I starting thinking about it, the benefit it would bring to how Australians view ourselves and how others view us in the 21st Century became obvious. So I joined the Australian Republican Movement – if you support improving Australia in this way, I’d recommend you think about doing the same.

Out of interest, here’s a news item I was sent from The Scotsman quoting the Barbados Prime Minister’s plans to make his nation a Republic.

posted by Andrew Bartlett @ Saturday, January 29, 2005 Permalink
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