While Albanese (who lands back in Australia on budget eve) basks in the international limelight, at home Treasurer Jim Chalmers this week has been feeling the heat of the spotlight.
In this podcast, Michelle & Amanda Dunn discuss the $50b windfall improvement announced by Jim Chalmers, legislation for a national integrity commission, and the challenges facing a republic
The biggest hurdle for republicans is the reality that Australia is already an independent nation. Only sentiment and inertia links us to the British crown.
A new book argues no-one writing an Australian constitution today would argue for creating a head of state on the other side of the world who is hand-picked by the head of government.
Republic backers need to make a huge dent in public opinion to get the progress they want. People should remember even Fergie’s ‘toe sucking’ incident didn’t bring down the monarchy in the 1990s.
A new poll shows nearly two-thirds of Australians want an Australian head of state. A new republic model, however, would require compromise to succeed.
Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull met Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle in London in April.
AAP/Ella Pellegrini
When considering this question, we need to distinguish between the pomposities of monarchies and the purpose they serve as checks on untrammelled authoritarianism.
A proposed model for an Australian republic encourages active citizenship while preserving the non-partisan, ceremonial role of the head of state.
AAP/Lukas Coch
This model for an Australian republic aims to ensure the process of a choosing a head of state is democratic, but also that the dignity of the office is maintained.
Changing the date of Australia Day is the first tiny step for Australia to begin the reckoning with its origins.
AAP/Dan Peled
Reconciliation between the Settler and First Nations populations is a self-evident prerequisite for Australia cutting the ties of colonial dependency with Britain to stand on our own.
Australia’s Constitution vests executive power in the Queen and says that that power is exercised ‘on her behalf’ by the governor-general.
AAP/Alan Porritt
Many of the questions that would arise if Australia wants to become a republic have been successfully tackled elsewhere.
Queen Elizabeth signs the visitors’ book at Parliament House, while Prime Minister Paul Keating and Parliament House officials look on in February 1992.
National Archives of Australia
The arguments about a potential Australian republic in cabinet submissions suggest a failure of imagination and, more seriously, of trust.
Paul Keating took the prime ministership with a ‘comprehensive plan to get the country cracking’, but the task was daunting.
National Archives of Australia
Labor’s project of economic transformation hit some harder realities as Paul Keating assumed the top job. And a new push on remaking Australia stirred a brooding reaction of its own.
Paul Keating put the idea of a new flag, shorn of any traces of the Union Jack, on the political agenda.
AAP/David Moir
By the end of 1992, Paul Keating had done more than anyone to place on the political agenda issues of national identity that had been either dead or dormant for years.
Malcolm Turnbull is now more circumspect when it comes to the matter of an Australian republic.
AAP/Dan Himbrechts
For Australians to vote in favour of a republic, it may require something more than just crossing out ‘governor-general’ in the Constitution and writing in ‘president’.
Malcolm Turnbull addresses the Australian Republican Movement’s 25th anniversary dinner in Sydney on Saturday.
Dan Himbrechts/AAP
In his much-anticipated weekend speech to the Australian Republican Movement’s anniversary dinner, Malcolm Turnbull juggled the past, the present and the future.
Australian Republican Movement chairman Peter FitzSimons used Australia Day to renew calls for an Australian head of state.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Australians should want the reality of a republic. The rest is but window-dressing.
Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett was the only state or territory leader to refrain from signing a statement calling for an Australian head of state.
Richard Wainwright/AAP
On the eve of Australia Day, the Australian Republican Movement has released a statement of support for an Australian head of state signed by all but one of the nation’s premiers and chief ministers.