Australian Republic Movement | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairperson | Esther Anatolitis and Nathan Hansford |
| Founded | July 1991; 34 years ago (1991-07) |
| Website | |
| Australian Republic Movement | |
TheAustralian Republic Movement (ARM) is anon-partisan nationalist organisation campaigning for Australia to become a republic (have a president rather than a hereditary monarch). While styling itself as the “movement”, ARM is a company[1] with membership restricted by its constitution and decisions controlled by directors. ARM and its supporters have promoted various models of presidency including aparliamentary republic. It has branches active in all states and territories.[2]
The ARM was founded on 7 July 1991 and was originally known as the Australian Republican Movement.[3] Its first chairman was novelistThomas Keneally, with other founding members including lawyerMalcolm Turnbull (laterPrime Minister), formerAustralian cricket captainIan Chappell, and film directorFred Schepisi[4] as well asGeoffrey Dutton,Donald Horne,Jenny Kee,Franco Belgiorno-Nettis,Franca Arena,Faith Bandler, Mark Day,Geraldine Doogue,Colin Lanceley,Harry Seidler,David Williamson andNeville Wran.[citation needed]
FollowingPeter FitzSimons' retirement as chair, Australian retired Socceroo and human rights advocateCraig Foster and former Olympian and politicianNova Peris were elected co-chairs.[5] In May 2024, co-chairs Peris and Foster both resigned because of their differing responses to thewar in Gaza.[6][7] Arts and cultural leader Esther Anatolitis and management consultant Nathan Hansford were subsequently elected co-chairs.[8]
The1999 Australian republic referendum, held on 6 November 1999, was a two-question referendum to amend theConstitution of Australia. For some years, opinion polls had suggested that a majority of the electorate favoured a republic[9] but the 1999 referendum was defeated. Suggested reasons include a lack of bi-partisanship and division among republicans on the method proposed for selection of a president.[10]
The ARM announced its proposed model for a republic on 13 January 2022, named the Australian Choice Model.[11] Originating from a concept in the 2004 Senate report,[12] the refined model would entail a process where each state and territory parliament 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.[13] Similar to the 1998Gallop model,[14] the model aims to resolve the challenging debate over whether the parliament or people should elect the highest official in a republic.[15]
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.[16] 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.[11]
A majority of ARM members voted to support the policy, however the policy announcement raised concerns and criticisms from theAustralian Monarchist League,[17] as well as other republicans, including former prime ministerPaul Keating[18] and formerNew South Wales PremierBob Carr.[19] Critics such as Carr claim that a head of state who is elected by the public could cause conflict with aprime minister andParliament. Then-ARM ChairPeter 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.[18]
| No. | Image | Chair | Term | No. | Image | Chair | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Thomas Keneally | 1991 − November 1993 | (One chair from 1992−2022) | |||
| 2 |  | Malcolm Turnbull | November 1993 − 20 September 2000 | ||||
| 3 |  | Greg Barns | 20 September 2000 − 2002 | ||||
| 4 | | John Warhurst | 2002 − 2005 | ||||
| 5 | | Ted O'Brien | 2005 − 2007 | ||||
| 6 | | Michael Keating | 2007 − 26 November 2012 | ||||
| 7 | _b.jpg) | Geoff Gallop | 26 November 2012 − 20 July 2015 | ||||
| 8 | _(cropped).jpg) | Peter FitzSimons | 20 July 2015 − 16 November 2022 | ||||
| 9 |  | Craig Foster | 16 November 2022 − 10 July 2024 | 9 | .jpg) | Nova Peris | 13 March 2023 − 10 July 2024 |
| 10 | | Esther Anatolitis | 10 July 2024 − present | 10 | | Nathan Hansford | 10 July 2024 − present |
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).
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.
