Republic will Fly - WfaAR Letter to The Canberra Times
The republic debate in The Canberra Times is still going. Read our latest letter in reply to a persistent critic.
Download: Letter to The Canberra Times [55KB, pdf]
Women Speak at Head of State Conference
The keynote address at the ARM's Our Say/ Head of State Conference held at Deakin University in Melbourne is given by Senator Lisa Singh, Labor Senator for Tasmania and former ARM Tasmania Convenor and Tasmanian Government Minister 2008-2010. The other woman to speak was Professor Anne Twomey, constitutional lawyer and author of "The Chameleon Crown".
Senator Singh's speech is published in full at www.independentaustralia.net (18 Feb 2012)
WfaAR Republic Prediction for 2012
In the absence of new republic polls for Australia Day, WfaAR predicts that 2012 could be a pivotal year for the Australian republic. Things to watch are:
- the reaction to the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall for the Diamond Jubilee
- developments with the referendum to recognise our First Peoples in the Constitution
- Jamaica's progress towards a republic
- the Scottish independence referendum that could be the start of removing Scotland from the union......
Jamaica to Become a Republic
New Jamaican Prime Minister, Portia Miller Simpson, announces at her inauguration that Jamaica would be well on the way to becoming a republic by the end of the year. A previous attempt stalled in 2007. Jamaica's move could be influential on other small Caribbean nations. Domenica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have already become republics while Barbados has previously announced its intention to do so. Jamaica's move is considered to be motivated by anti-slavery sentiment, a desire to distance itself from the colonial power and final appeals to the Privy Council. The decision by the new Jamaican Government will have to pass a referendum.
