Call for Australian head of state
Holiday reignites debate on republic

(By Andrew Fraser - Canberra Times June 14 2004 - Queen's Birthday Holiday)

Republicans have used the Queen's Birthday long weekend to reignite their cause in the runup up to the federal election pledging to survey all candidates for their views on the country having an Australian head of state

The chair of the Australian Republican Movement John Warhurst said it was nonsensical that Australia faced the prospect of our next head of state being Prince Charles

All opinion polls showed Australians preferred an Australian head of state

"If we don't change our Constitution shortly our next head of state will be the heir to the British monarch King Charles" he said

"That is a nonsensical position for an independent and modern nation to put itself in and Australians should encourage their federal representatives to do something about it

The ARM is to push its cause but does not want the issue to become "unnecessarily divisive between the parties during the election campaign

"The ARM is delighted that the republican cause is supported right across the political spectrum," it said in a statement

"As a multi-partisan organisation itself the ARM does not want to see this unique character threatened by divisive debate

"While the ARM is committed to raising awareness of the republic issue between now and the election it will maintain its strictly neutral and non-partisan approach in terms of political party support

Of the candidate survey, ARM national director Allison Henry said "It is only reasonable that all candidates seeking the support of voters should also have an opinion and should be willing to share that opinion with voters"

Professor Warhurst said "The ARM looks forward to the issue of an Australian head of state being addressed after the election either by a republican Latham Labor government or by a Howard Coalition government containing a great number of republican supporters

"Australians deserve a second opportunity to vote for a republic at a constitutional referendum. That process should be initiated in the next term of parliament

The Australian Republican Coalition seized also on the Queen's Birthday weekend calling on Prime Minister John Howard to apologise to the Queen for celebrating her birthday two months late

The Queen was born on April 21. National convener Paul Tully said the June long weekend "joke should be replaced with "something more significant for all Australians like a public holiday for the Melbourne Cup.

"The Melbourne Cup stirs more flag-waving Australian pride than a belated birthday for a septuagenarian monarch presiding over a dysfunctional family and divided nation" he said

The June long weekend was "a colonial farce more appropriate to the days of Captain Cook than the 21st century

"John Howard's regular royal sentiments make former prime minister Bob Menzies look like a closet republican compared to his current successor he said.

Britain did not have a public holiday for the Queen's birthday

"Let's be fair dinkum - no-one really gives a royal corgi about her birthday any more.