Brexit boosts calls for Australia to leave the Commonwealth
Australia's republican movement says membership has surged in the wake of the Brexit vote, as Australians question the benefits of remaining part of “little Britain”.
An “AusExit” campaign, including calls to remove the Union Jack from the flag and remove the British monarch as head of state, has gained momentum since Friday, when Britain voted to leave the European Union.
Peter FitzSimons, the chairman of Australia’s republican movement, said Australia had belonged to the British empire but the historic ties between the nations had become less relevant because “Great Britain barely exists anymore”.
“It’s one thing for the monarchists to say ‘we should be staying so very closely aligned to Great Britain’ … but how do you feel about staying so closely aligned to little Britain?” he told ABC Radio.
"From the moment that Brexit came through, social media came alive, with people saying 'this is ridiculous, let us be our own people, let us get away from this'.”
Mr FitzSimons, a journalist and writer who previously played for the Australian rugby team, said if Australia abandoned the British monarchy it would be a unifying moment of national pride rather than a “divisive and horrible campaign as was Brexit”.
"[We're] not looking to Brexit as the model at all,” he said.
"We're just saying that it's ludicrous in the twenty-first century to say that Australia cannot do better than find our heads of state from one family of English aristocrats living in a palace in London. We're better than that as a people."
However, the monarchist movement said Britain’s vote has “has nothing whatsoever to do with changing from a constitutional monarchy to a republic".
“For the republicans to say that it gives an excuse to become a republic is total, apparent nonsense,” said Philip Benwell, the chairman of the Australian monarchist league.
Australians voted against changing to a republic at a referendum in 1999 and polls have since indicated that support for the change has stagnated or dropped.
The push during the 1990s was led by Malcolm Turnbull, a former chairman of the republican movement who is now Australia’s prime minister.
Mr Turnbull has signalled he does not intend to push for a republic and believes the change should not be made until after the end of the Queen’s reign.
Just days ahead of a general election on Saturday, Mr Turnbull has signalled that Australia will retain its close ties to Britain following the Brexit vote.
Shifting his previously upbeat tone about Australia’s future, Mr Turnbull, a former investment banker, has seized on Britain’s referendum outcome to call for “calm heads” to address the threat to global economic stability.
Polls have indicated that Mr Turnbull has edged ahead of the Labor opposition in recent days – and most pundits believe the Brexit result will give him a boost because he has campaigned on his economic credentials.
Brexit boosts calls for Australia to leave the Commonwealth
.....................................
Still think Canada needs to do the same...
The monarchy costs Canadians $1.53 per capita.. aprox $55 million
Canada's should become a Republic.
Australia's republican movement says membership has surged in the wake of the Brexit vote, as Australians question the benefits of remaining part of “little Britain”.
An “AusExit” campaign, including calls to remove the Union Jack from the flag and remove the British monarch as head of state, has gained momentum since Friday, when Britain voted to leave the European Union.
Peter FitzSimons, the chairman of Australia’s republican movement, said Australia had belonged to the British empire but the historic ties between the nations had become less relevant because “Great Britain barely exists anymore”.
“It’s one thing for the monarchists to say ‘we should be staying so very closely aligned to Great Britain’ … but how do you feel about staying so closely aligned to little Britain?” he told ABC Radio.
"From the moment that Brexit came through, social media came alive, with people saying 'this is ridiculous, let us be our own people, let us get away from this'.”
Mr FitzSimons, a journalist and writer who previously played for the Australian rugby team, said if Australia abandoned the British monarchy it would be a unifying moment of national pride rather than a “divisive and horrible campaign as was Brexit”.
"[We're] not looking to Brexit as the model at all,” he said.
"We're just saying that it's ludicrous in the twenty-first century to say that Australia cannot do better than find our heads of state from one family of English aristocrats living in a palace in London. We're better than that as a people."
However, the monarchist movement said Britain’s vote has “has nothing whatsoever to do with changing from a constitutional monarchy to a republic".
“For the republicans to say that it gives an excuse to become a republic is total, apparent nonsense,” said Philip Benwell, the chairman of the Australian monarchist league.
Australians voted against changing to a republic at a referendum in 1999 and polls have since indicated that support for the change has stagnated or dropped.
The push during the 1990s was led by Malcolm Turnbull, a former chairman of the republican movement who is now Australia’s prime minister.
Mr Turnbull has signalled he does not intend to push for a republic and believes the change should not be made until after the end of the Queen’s reign.
Just days ahead of a general election on Saturday, Mr Turnbull has signalled that Australia will retain its close ties to Britain following the Brexit vote.
Shifting his previously upbeat tone about Australia’s future, Mr Turnbull, a former investment banker, has seized on Britain’s referendum outcome to call for “calm heads” to address the threat to global economic stability.
Polls have indicated that Mr Turnbull has edged ahead of the Labor opposition in recent days – and most pundits believe the Brexit result will give him a boost because he has campaigned on his economic credentials.
Brexit boosts calls for Australia to leave the Commonwealth
.....................................
Still think Canada needs to do the same...
The monarchy costs Canadians $1.53 per capita.. aprox $55 million
Canada's should become a Republic.
