Australian Republic Movement

The ARM was founded on 7 July 1991 and was originally known as the Australian Republican Movement.{{cite web|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/7458662?q&versionId=8583984|title=Records of the Australian Republican Movement, 1987-2009|publisher=National Library of Australia|access-date=12 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307203911/http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/7458662?q&versionId=8583984|archive-date=7 March 2017|url-status=live|author=Australian Republican Movement|publication-date=1987–2009}} Its first chairman was novelist Thomas Keneally, with other founding members including lawyer Malcolm Turnbull (later Prime Minister), former Australian cricket captain Ian Chappell, and film director Fred Schepisi[http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3294165 Records of the Australian Republic Movement, 1987–2009 (manuscript).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607104742/http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3294165 |date=7 June 2013 }} National Library of Australia. Retrieved 3 April 2025. as well as Geoffrey Dutton, Donald Horne, Jenny Kee, Franco Belgiorno-Nettis, Franca Arena, Faith Bandler, Mark Day, Geraldine Doogue, Colin Lanceley, Harry Seidler, David Williamson and Neville Wran.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

Following Peter FitzSimons' retirement as chair, Australian retired Socceroo and human rights advocate Craig Foster and former Olympian and politician Nova Peris were elected co-chairs.{{cite press release |title=Australian Republic Movement Welcomes New Executive |url=https://republic.org.au/media/2022/11/16/australian-republic-movement-welcomes-new-executive |website=Australian Republic Movement |access-date=16 November 2022|date=16 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116031306/https://republic.org.au/media/2022/11/16/australian-republic-movement-welcomes-new-executive |archive-date=16 November 2022 |url-status=live}} In May 2024, co-chairs Peris and Foster both resigned because of their differing responses to the war in Gaza.{{cite news |last=Harrison |first=James |date=23 May 2024 |title=Craig Foster to exit Australian Republican Movement amid conflict with former co-chair Nova Peris on Gaza war |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/craig-foster-to-exit-australian-republican-movement-amid-conflict-with-former-cochair-nova-peris-on-gaza-war/news-story/5f29fe91ea97d4b64a3cba6a5a6894f8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801070746/https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/craig-foster-to-exit-australian-republican-movement-amid-conflict-with-former-cochair-nova-peris-on-gaza-war/news-story/5f29fe91ea97d4b64a3cba6a5a6894f8 |archive-date=1 August 2024 |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=Sky News}}{{cite news |last=Kirk |first=Emma |date=21 May 2024 |title=Olympian Nova Peris resigns from Australian Republican Movement over conflict with co-chair Craig Foster |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/olympian-nova-peris-resigns-from-australian-republican-movement-over-conflict-with-cochair-craig-foster/news-story/3e7da0f3aefa5a2aa0e6779c6053e00a |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801071941/https://www.news.com.au/national/olympian-nova-peris-resigns-from-australian-republican-movement-over-conflict-with-cochair-craig-foster/news-story/3e7da0f3aefa5a2aa0e6779c6053e00a |archive-date=1 August 2024 |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=news.com.au}} Arts and cultural leader Esther Anatolitis and management consultant Nathan Hansford were subsequently elected co-chairs.{{Cite web |title=Meet the National Executive |url=https://republic.org.au/meet-the-exec |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Australian Republic Movement |language=en-AU}}

{{Main|1999 Australian republic referendum}}

The Australian republic referendum, held on 6 November 1999, was a two-question referendum to amend the Constitution of Australia. For some years opinion polls had suggested that a majority of the electorate favoured a republic.{{cite web|url=http://www.newspoll.com.au/image_uploads/cgi-lib.1278.1.1101republic.pdf|title=Polls on a republic 1999 - 2002|date=November 2007|work=Newspoll and The Australian|access-date=2008-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050615110920/http://www.newspoll.com.au/image_uploads/cgi-lib.1278.1.1101republic.pdf|archive-date=15 June 2005|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Nonetheless, the 1999 referendum was defeated due to a range of factors, including a lack of bi-partisanship and division among republicans on the method proposed for selection of the president.{{cite book|last=Turnbull|first=Malcolm|title=Fighting for the Republic: the Ultimate Insider's Account|location=South Yarra, Victoria|publisher=Hardie Grant Books|url=https://archive.org/details/fightingforrepub0000turn/mode/2up|url-access=registration|pages=94, 246|date=1999|isbn=1864981075|author-link=Malcolm Turnbull}}

The ARM announced their proposed model for a republic on 13 January 2022, named the Australian Choice Model.{{Cite web|url=https://republic.org.au/policy|title=Let's Discuss An Australian Republic And The Role Of Head Of State|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/ZBrgx|archive-date=1 August 2024|url-status=live|work=Australian Republic Movement|at=Australian Choice Model}} Originating from a concept in the 2004 Senate report,{{cite book |title=Road to a Republic - Alternative Models for an Australian Republic |date=August 2004 |publisher=Australian Senate |page=129, sect.7.104 |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/~/media/wopapub/senate/committee/legcon_ctte/completed_inquiries/2002_04/republic03/report/report_pdf.ashx |access-date=17 March 2025}} the refined model would entail a process where each state and territory parliaments may nominate one candidate to be the head of state, and the Federal Parliament nominates up to three candidates. The eleven candidates would then be put to a vote where the public would elect the head of state, who would serve a five-year term.{{Cite web|date=12 January 2022|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/this-is-the-latest-plan-for-australia-to-become-a-republic/97275d56-9112-47db-99bb-e98acc33f73d|archive-date=1 August 2024|quote=The federal parliament would be able to nominate up to three people while states and territories would nominate one person each. The ballot winner would get a five-year term and would be responsible for swearing in a prime minister with majority support in the House of Representatives, or calling an election if that support does not exist (duties currently undertaken by the Governor-General, the British monarch's representative in Australia).|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801062916/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/this-is-the-latest-plan-for-australia-to-become-a-republic/z5p6yfxp8|url-status=live|work=AAP |via=SBS News|first=Evan|last=Young|title=This is the latest plan for Australia to become a republic}} Similar to the 1998 Gallop model,{{cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Benjamin |title=This Time: Australia’s republican past and future |publisher=Redback |page=175 | url=https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/74VKVjOXZLdM |access-date=24 January 2018}} the model aims to resolve the challenging debate over whether the parliament or people should elect the highest official in a republic.{{cite news |last1=Koziol |first1=Michael |title=‘People don’t want Trump or Shane Warne’: Hybrid model proposed for Australian republic |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/people-don-t-want-trump-or-shane-warne-hybrid-model-proposed-for-australian-republic-20220112-p59no0.html |access-date=17 March 2025 |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |date=12 Jan 2022}}

The model includes specific constitutional amendments drafted and supported by ten constitutional law scholars. The proposed amendments codify the reserve powers of the Head of State with some variance from how they are exercised presently.{{cite journal |last1=Luo |first1=Dane |title=The Devil is in the Detail: The Reserve Powers under the Australian Choice Model |url=https://www.auspublaw.org/blog/2022/02/the-devil-is-in-the-detail-the-reserve-powers-under-the-australian-choice-model |website=Australian Public Law |date=18 Feb 2022 |access-date=17 March 2025 }} The ARM claims their research proves this approach has high levels of public support compared to previous direct election or parliamentary appointment models and therefore has the best prospects of success at a referendum.

A majority of ARM members voted to support the policy, however the policy announcement raised concerns and criticisms from the Australian Monarchist League,{{Cite web|location=Canberra|url=https://citynews.com.au/2022/monarchists-debunk-new-republican-model/|archive-date=1 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801063353/https://citynews.com.au/2022/monarchists-debunk-new-republican-model/|publisher=CityNews|url-status=live|title=Monarchists debunk new Republican model|date=12 January 2022}} as well as other republicans, including former prime minister Paul Keating{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/keating-blasts-new-republic-proposal-as-dangerous-us-style-presidency-20220113-p59o22.html|archive-date=1 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801063945/https://www.smh.com.au/national/keating-blasts-new-republic-proposal-as-dangerous-us-style-presidency-20220113-p59o22.html|url-status=live|first1=Matthew|last1=Knott|first2=Michael|last2=Koziol|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|title = Keating blasts new republic proposal as dangerous 'US-style presidency'|date = 13 January 2022}} and former New South Wales Premier Bob Carr.{{Cite web|quote=Bob Carr has warned the new model for an Australian republic would risk a directly elected head of state viewing their mandate from the people as being superior to that of the PM.|work=The Australian|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/model-risks-presidentpm-balance-says-bob-carr/news-story/b41f28f4129bc2039b284faafd8ef579|url-access=subscription|title = Republic model risks president-PM balance}} Critics such as Carr claim that a head of state who is elected by the public could cause conflict with a prime minister and Parliament. Then-ARM Chair Peter FitzSimons argued against these criticisms, noting that the head of state's powers would be limited and they would be unable to dismiss a prime minister.

{{portal|Australia|Politics}}

• Republicanism in Australia
• 1999 Australian republic referendum
• Ausflag
• Australian Constitutional history
• Commonwealth of Nations
• Commonwealth realm
• Culture of Australia
• Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942

{{Reflist}}

• [https://republic.org.au/ Official website]

{{Republicanism}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Organizations established in 1991

Category:Republicanism in Australia

Category:Republican organizations

Category:1991 establishments in Australia

Category:Social movements in Australia

Category:Political advocacy groups in Australia