Republic reduced to rags as everybody flees from the idea of yet another postal survey
The republic gets hot. The Australian Republic Movement’s Michael Cooney emails supporters on the 2018 game plan, December 21 last year:
In the coming year you’ll still see lots of emails and lots of content online … I’m sure you’ve felt the growth in activity: our successful and visible national days of action, our new offers for members, our merchandise store open in time for Christmas, and the growth of our social media and digital campaign.
The republic gets a little hotter. Malcolm Turnbull on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Monday:
I think the first thing you would need to do is have an honest, open discussion about how a president would be elected … You’ve got to have that discussion and it may be that a plebiscite, maybe even a postal survey, given the success of the marriage postal survey, could be one way to deal with that.
The republic gets scorching. Media statement by ARM chairman Peter FitzSimons, Tuesday:
We are thrilled with the return of the PM — long the most passionate republican in the country — to moving forward the process of becoming a republic … Now it’s not a question of if, but how.
The republic gets cold. Liberal senator and arch-monarchist Dean Smith speaking to The Australian, yesterday:
It’s disappointing Malcolm Turnbull naively fell for the republic trap (former prime minister, Paul) Keating mischievously set for him
The republic gets frightfully chilly. The Sydney Morning Herald, yesterday:
The Turnbull government has ruled out holding a plebiscite or postal survey before the next election on Australians’ preferred model for becoming a republic even if Queen Elizabeth’s reign ends during the current parliament.
The republic is subzero all of a sudden. Cooney emails republicans, yesterday:
You’ve probably seen the media coverage of the Prime Minister’s comments on New Year’s Day, initially speculating about a postal survey, and now seemingly ruling one out for the time being … whatever the media cycle, our campaign plan doesn’t change …
The republic is colder than the US at the moment. The Atlantic, December 29 last year:
Daily high temperatures on the east coast have dipped into the teens and 20s in Fahrenheit, and highs in parts of the midwest are well below zero, with some in the negative 20s and 30s … The latest weather data from the Curiosity rover on Mars recorded a peak temperature of -9 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 degrees Celsius) …
But Cooney is keeping hope alive. ARM’s executive director emails supporters of the republic, yesterday:
The best way you can help get us closer to a republic this month is (to) buy a hat or a T-shirt …
Cooney must have seen the new Star Wars movie. Hollywood hunk Oscar Isaac fights to save the Galactic Republic in The Last Jedi, December 14 last year:
We are the spark that will light the fire that’ll burn the (British monarchy) down.
Bit more inspiring than his own work. Julia Gillard’s speech at the 2011 ALP conference, written by Cooney. December 2, 2011:
This is the Labor way. This is the Australian way. We follow it simply because we are us.