Monarchism in Australia

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Monarchism in Australia is a movement supporting the continuation of the Australian monarchy, as opposed to republicanism. The largest monarchist organisations in the country are the Australian Monarchist League and the Australians for Constitutional Monarchy.[citation needed]

History[edit]

Monarchism has existed in Australia since before Federation.[1] In 1867 it was suggested that Australia should have its own resident monarch in the event that Australia became an independent country.[1][2]

Types of monarchism[edit]

Monarchism that supports Australia continuing to share a monarch with the United Kingdom (status quo monarchism)[edit]

By far the most prominent form of monarchism in Australia is status quo monarchism. Status quo monarchists support the continuation of the Australian monarchy with Australia continuing to share a monarch with the United Kingdom and with the monarch continuing to be represented by a governor general. Both the Australian Monarchist league and Australians for Constitutional Monarchy support this position.

Monarchism that supports Australia having a resident Australian monarch (alternative monarchism)[edit]

A far less prominent form of monarchism in Australia is alternative monarchism. Alternative monarchists support Australia having a resident Australian monarch and abolishing the role of governor general of Australia. The proposition was first published in 1867.[1][3] It was later reiterated by Alan Atkinson in his 1993 book The Muddle Headed Republic,[4] by Harry Meklonian in 2009,[5] and by Richard Hughes in 2017.[6] In a similar vein, Waleed Aly suggested in 2022 replacing the monarch with a life appointed Indigenous "First Elder".[7] Another possibility would be to crown someone in the line of succession to the Australian throne, but who is not expected to become monarch by the present rules of succession.[5] There is a website that supports this position.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Davidson, Jim (5 June 2012). "The lost option". Griffith Review.
  2. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABjCkxjvXPE
  3. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABjCkxjvXPE
  4. ^ Irving, Helen (1997), "Republicanism and Citizenship", in Galligan, Brian; McAllister, Ian; Ravenhill, John (eds.), New Developments in Australian Politics, Macmillan Education Australia, p. 135, ISBN 9780732943042, retrieved 9 May 2023
  5. ^ a b Melkonian, Harry (13 November 2009), "A novel solution to the republican debate", The Sydney Morning Herald, retrieved 9 May 2023
  6. ^ Hughes, Richard (1 December 2017), "Call me old-fashioned, but Prince Harry wouldn't be a bad monarch Down Under", The Sydney Morning Herald, retrieved 9 May 2023
  7. ^ Aly, Waleed (22 September 2022). "Forget a president – here's another idea". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  8. ^ https://www.australianmonarch.com/

General references[edit]