The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) has launched a campaign to promote King Charles’ upcoming visit to the country as a “farewell tour” for the British monarchy.
They say the push-in-check push – which includes a collection of assets – is intended to spark debate about the role of the Crown in modern Australia, but the monarchs say it is offensive.
The royal tour, from 18 to 26 October, marks the first visit by a monarch in more than a decade and will be King Charles’ longest since he was diagnosed with cancer.
It also comes a year after Australia failed to win Voice to Parliament referendummany who say the momentum has stopped in another poll.
The nation has voted to become a republic once, in 1999, yet public support for constitutional change has grown since then.
In humorous posters, T-shirts, beer coasters and other items, the ARM campaign portrays the King, Queen and Prince of Wales as aging rock stars and urges Australians “young and old” to “say goodbye to the monarchy”.
“We are waiting for a fully committed head of state who is the only one who is loyal to us – a unifying symbol at home and abroad,” said Co-Chair of the organization Esther Anatolitis in a statement on Monday.
“It’s time for Australia to say ‘thanks, but we’ve got it from here’,” he added.
The organization pointed to a survey that allowed it to suggest that 92% of Australians were “republican” or “open to it”, as well as finding that at least 40% of respondents did not know the head of state was a party. the king of other countries.
Independent polls paint a different picture, however, with one poll suggesting that around 35% of people want to remain a constitutional monarchy.
The Australian Monarchist League (AML) described ARM’s vote as “inflated”, while also criticizing its new campaign as “very disrespectful to Charles due to his ongoing battle with cancer”.
“He should be applauded for his bravery, not insulted,” said national chairman Philip Benwell.
The Prime Minister of Australia is a long-term republican but his government is making any plans to vote to secede from the British monarchy. on the ice earlier this yearsaying that it is no longer a priority issue.
At the weekend, King Charles confirmed that he had exchanged letters with ARM before his visit, reiterating the palace’s policy that it is in the hands of the Australian people to make decisions about their future.
Constitutional votes in Australia are rare and difficult to pass, requiring a ‘double majority’ – support from more than half the country, and a majority in at least four of its six states. Only eight of the 44 referendums passed and almost all of them were supported by two parties.
The Voice referendum – which would have recognized First Nations people in the constitution and allowed them to form a panel to advise parliament – was overwhelmingly rejected after a damaging argument.
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