Posted on 10/31/2009 3:26:50 PM PDT by naturalman1975
TEN years ago republican campaigner Phil Cleary celebrated a glorious referendum defeat by saying that "very soon" Australians would have the republic they wanted.
Cleary's Real Republic group and other supporters of direct election had thrown in their lot with the monarchists to campaign for the rejection of a republic with a president appointed by parliament, a decision that helped turn a monarchist minority into a majority of rejectionists.
Their strategy, as Cleary explained, was that, following the failure of the referendum, "I'm of the view that the momentum will build immediately" for the republic that people wanted, namely one in which they would vote for a president.
So much for that idea. Next Friday, the 10th anniversary of the referendum and the day after John Howard delivers a speech to a monarchist audience on "the crowned republic", what's left of the Australian Republican Movement will try to drum up media attention with a commemoration based on the theme"10 years: time to mend the nation's broken heart".
It's meant as a reminder of their former leader Malcolm Turnbull's remark on referendum night, blaming Howard for breaking the nation's heart. Also, ARM chairman Michael Keating will deliver a letter to Kevin Rudd, Turnbull and the Greens' Bob Brown asking them to provide leadership and put the republic back on the national agenda.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
Australia, the ultimate prison camp. Lack of morality has left us this mess. Thanks liberals!
You live in Australia, and you believe this?
Where do live?
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