January 27, 2015
Mayor Wayne Kratzmann has spoken out against a recent agreement amongst most of Australia’s State Premiers and Chief Ministers to reignite discussions about making the nation a republic.
Speaking at the annual South Burnett Australia Day Awards service held at Proston Community Hall on Monday night, the Mayor called on South Burnett residents to resist the move.
“Our soldiers have fought and died under our flag,” the Mayor said.
“Our sportsmen and women have won glory under it.
“It signifies our nation all over the world.”
The Mayor said he didn’t think there was any pressing need for change.
He said the current system of constitutional monarchy had served the nation well in the 115 years since Federation.
“I don’t feel there is any great mood for change, and we all need to communicate that to our State and Federal politicians.”
Yesterday Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull expressed similar views.
Mr Turnbull, who spearheaded the Republican movement in the failed 1999 referendum, said he thought there were more pressing issues facing the nation.
He said it was his personal view the best time to renew the campaign would be after the Queen’s reign.
“If you don’t want to have another heroic defeat, and you want it to be carried, the best time to do that will be after the end of the Queen’s reign,” he told ABC News.
“Really, what we’ll have to see is whether there is enough popular momentum, whether it really becomes a front-of-house issue, a key issue as it was in the late 90s.”
Mr Turnbull said he believed the push would not succeed if it was seen to be a political movement, and would need genuine grassroots support.
“It is not something a government can just do, even if it wanted to,” he said.
Mr Turnbull said any decision on becoming a republic should be a decision for the Australian people.
