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.
Cicero’s public and private correspondence provides a detailed look at political life in Rome.
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Although he privately disapproved of Caesar’s power, Cicero publicly supported him and Cicero also directly contributed to the end of the Roman Republic and the reign of Caesar’s nephew Augustus.
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.
Trump hugs the American flag at a 2019 convention of political conservatives.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
President Trump’s impeachment defense that the will of the president is no different from the will of the state and the good of the people has echoes in the decline of ancient Rome’s democracy.
As prime minister, republican Malcolm Turnbull said there would be no more moves towards an Australian head of state while Queen Elizabeth remained on the throne.
AAP/Ward/WENN.com
Bill Shorten is committed to an Australian head of state, but it will likely take lost priority to constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians.
Australia’s head of state Queen Elizabeth is aged 92. Source: Treasury.
Labor says if it wins office at the upcoming federal election, in its first term it will offer Australians a chance to vote to become a republic – but in a two-step voting process.
Scott Morrison’s personal ratings have also worsened, in a poll that.
comes in the wake of his intensive week of campaigning in the key
state of Queensland.
Dan Peled/AAP
The Newspolls have been consistently worse for the Coalition since the
leadership change – before that Labor had been cut back to a narrow 51-49% lead.
Primary voter in New Hampshire, 2016.
AP/David Goldman
The more undemocratic tendencies of the US electoral system are growing stronger. As the midterm campaign season enters its final stage, it turns out that some votes count more than others.
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.
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
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.
As it is, it’s a fairly safe bet that Malcolm Turnbull will never usher in a republic.
Paul Miller/AAP
As he joins the Australian Republican Movement at its 25th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Malcolm Turnbull will surely have a rueful thought for what might have been.
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.
The 1975 crisis surrounding the dismissal of the Whitlam government was brought about in part by the nature of Australia’s constitutional arrangements.
NLA
It has significant public support across party lines, but politicians who advocate Australia becoming a republic are likely to have their priorities and even their right to do so questioned.