‘Farewell to Oz’: cheeky new Republican campaign launches
The Australian Republican Movement has launched a new campaign ahead of the royal tour, just as surveys suggest fewer people than ever support the cause.
National
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Republicans have cheekily branded this week’s visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla as a “farewell tour” as they desperately attempt to reverse declining support for their cause.
Yesterday, News Corp revealed online survey results showing support for a republic had fallen to just one in three Australians – a level far below that seen during the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
Of the more than 1000 Aussies who responded to the Pulse of Australia poll, 45 per cent said they did not support an Australian republic, and 22 per cent said they were unsure.
But with the King and Queen due to touch down in Sydney on Friday for a short tour prior to next week’s CHOGM meeting in Samoa, the Australian Republic Movement has debuted a new campaign which they hope “resets the conversation about the future of the monarchy in Australia”.
The campaign depicts the King, Queen and Prince William as a fading rock band called Monarchy embarking on their “Farewell Oz” tour. T-shirts, badges and social media videos have been created.
“Our aim is to reinvigorate an optimistic and positive public conversation about the monarchy in Australia today,” said ARM co-chair Esther Anatolitis.
“What happens when this big show comes to Australia, that Australians are paying for? Is this the way that our head of state should be presented to Australians?” she said.
Other republicans have indicated their determination to make noise during the royal tour.
Former ARM co-chair Craig Foster said he would be raising the republican issue, which he described as “one of the most important conversations we’ll ever have”.
Last week the former Socceroos captain revealed he had declined an invitation from NSW Premier Chris Minns to attend a barbecue with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
“Thanks … but no thanks,” Foster posted. “I look forward to being ‘in the presence’ (of) our first Aussie head of state. When we put our big pants on, as a country.”
The CEO of British organisation Republic, Graham Smith, is also in Australia and has promised to protest the Royal visit – a move condemned by the Australian Monarchist League.
The organisation’s National Chairman Philip Benwell described Mr Smith’s actions as “clear foreign interference”.
“The British have no right to interfere in the way we are governed under the Australian Constitution and Crown. This is a matter for the Australian people, not the British, and it is these British protesters who should go back to Britain and leave us to our own affairs,” Mr Benwell said.
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