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Australia may become a republic?

Posted: Tue 10 Jun, 2003 12:14 am
by may18
Republic preamble drafted
By Graeme Webber
June 8, 2003

SIX Australian authors have rekindled the republican debate by penning their own versions of a constitutional preamble.

James Bradley, Richard Flanagan, Delia Falconer, Dorothy Porter and Leah Purcell tonight read their preambles at the Museum of Sydney while the sixth wordsmith, Peter Carey, was absent in New York.

Poet Les Murray worked with Prime Minister John Howard to come up with a new lead-in to the national law book but their effort was voted down at a republican referendum in 1999.

Mr Bradley organised the project, sponsored by the Australian Republican Movement, to reinvigorate talk about cutting ties with the monarchy.

He said the Queen's Birthday weekend was a good time to launch the preambles and the recent controversial departure of Peter Hollingworth from the governor-general post also stirred interest in republicanism

Posted: Tue 10 Jun, 2003 12:31 am
by Andy O'Pray
The closer that the UK moves towards Europe the further that it is being forced away from the Commonwealth. The day may well come when Australia, New Zealand and Canada declare themselves republics, but I don't think that it is going to happen anytime soon.

Aye - Andy. :cry:

Posted: Tue 10 Jun, 2003 12:47 am
by may18
I think australia most likely

reading the new zealand and canadian papers, i was astonished to see the queens birthday get more coverage there than here.

Also in the uk, the bbc didnt do a thing on the d-day landings (unless i managed to miss it)

Posted: Tue 10 Jun, 2003 1:33 am
by BenChug
God save the Queen, she's a nice lady.

Posted: Tue 10 Jun, 2003 3:02 am
by Sneaky
I really can't see it happening in the near future. There is still a large majority of monarchists here. The day will probably come but i don't see it happening before i'm dead.

P.S. Yes, the Queen is a nice lady.

Posted: Tue 10 Jun, 2003 10:08 pm
by Tab
It is understandable that they are looking at becoming a Republic, when you look at the way succesive British Governments have treated them.

Posted: Tue 10 Jun, 2003 10:48 pm
by may18
Tab wrote:It is understandable that they are looking at becoming a Republic, when you look at the way succesive British Governments have treated them.
why do we turn our backs on our friends though?. It makes no sense at all

do you feel more akin to australians and canadians and new zealanders?

or to continental europe?

Posted: Tue 10 Jun, 2003 11:20 pm
by Lazarus
Unfortunately it would appear that we are moving closer to becoming part of a federalised european state, whilst at the same moving away from what is left of the Commonwealth. :roll:

Posted: Tue 10 Jun, 2003 11:47 pm
by may18
yeah but 90% of the population dont want this

oh well, what can ya do

nothing, best to not worry about it i guess

Posted: Wed 11 Jun, 2003 9:03 pm
by El Prez
oh well, what can ya do

nothing, best to not worry about it i guess
We could all get out and vote ANYBODY but Blair into power next time. (See what two pints of Guinness does when I'm tired and emotional) :lol: