Letter to members - March/April 2017
Our Branches
Our States have committees elected for the purpose of looking after members within each respective State. Unfortunately, many members of committees have time-consuming jobs and little time left to spend on League matters. Also, regrettably, when functions are organised most members don't bother to respond.
The Liberty newsletter was commenced many years ago as a means of keeping in contact with members throughout the country and to this end it seems to have achieved its purpose. The fact is, we are a membership organisation dependent upon the involvement of our members in our cause - the cause of Liberty under the Crown. Therefore, members are all urged to become more involved and thus ensure the continued survival of our organisation.
The Republicans
Over three months have now passed since the republican dinner in December featuring the republican Malcolm Turnbull (he of “Advance Australia - up the Republic” notoriety) and it may seem that republicans have gone to sleep but I can assure you they are still there plotting behind-the-scenes looking for an opening to push their dubious product.
In fact, only last month the Australian republican movement advertised for a: “seasoned professional with some major wins under the belt, and an extensive network of contacts in the Australian political, media and corporate firmaments.” Obviously on an extremely high salary. Who would ever have thought that the proceeds of gambling and moreover gambling under the name ‘Crown’ would ever have been directed towards funding a republic in this country?
Whoever is appointed will have a difficult task on their hands. The matter of a republic seems now to have become ‘fill in ‘news for the media similar to the occasional tummy upset with resultant explosions of wind only to then settle down and recur every three to six months or so. However, don’t get me wrong. As you will see from the chart below the republicans are building up their resources, firming their support in the Parliament, moving amongst the universities and preparing for their objective of a formal move, they would hope under a Shorten government, towards a republic.
They have just announced their strategic plan clearly setting out the stages leading up to a plebiscite by 2020 and a referendum by 2022.
However, as far as our members are concerned, many have dropped out of membership with some grumbling that the subsidised cost of $30 has been standardised at $40 and others wanting the $25 online membership without going online just because it’s $15 cheaper.
We now only have a handful of members who occasionally support us with contributions of over a hundred dollars which means that we continue to scrape around to make ends meet and constantly wonder how we will be able to continue. All this is very limiting for us, particularly when it is the Australian Monarchist League which is constantly at the forefront, often alone, battling to counter the republican advance.
Despite their strategic plan, their gain in numbers and in funding, the republicans are bringing nothing constructive to the table. There are no new proposals on what is planned in so far as constitutional amendments are concerned and no commentaries whatsoever on how a republic will better our Australian system of constitutional monarchy. In fact nothing except an inane performance of continuous waffle – but it is a waffle which is encouraging volunteers and funding.
Having said that, it continues to baffle us particularly when conservative politicians - Labor politicians don’t get a choice - support the sorts of statements that Peter FitzSimons makes such as: there is “a little old wealthy lady living in a big house in London who is our head of state” purposely ignoring that in Australia everything that is done in the name of the Queen is done by the Governor-General as Her Majesty’s representative - and, the Governor-General is now always an Australian. These politicians also conveniently forget to mention that the most politically important office in the country is that of the Prime Minister and, as we know, anyone - and I mean anyone - can attain that position.
Politics in general:
The huge swings that we are seeing in election results is a sign of great discontent amongst the general public in respect to our politicians, the political parties they represent and in the political process in general. Mind you, the media is probably more to blame than politicians because the moment politicians are honest and straightforward is the time the media crucifies them. This leads to some sort of political mumbo-jumbo answers to serious questions for which the people are looking for answers.
However, you will generally find that a monarchist politician will be more open and upfront because he or she has already stood up against the leftist politically-correct trend and denounced a republic for what it is.
The League is not Party-Politically Aligned:
As I say so often, the Australian Monarchist League is not aligned to any political party nor are we a political organisation but the unfortunate fact is, we are engaged in what has become a political debate. As Plato wrote: “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
We are often criticised by Labor voters for having Conservative Liberal parliamentarians addressing us. But the problem is monarchist politicians in the Labor Party are far and few between and in any event the party will not allow its members to openly support the Constitution. The exception was former Senator Joe Bullock (in fact he took exception to many of the Shorten socialist policies) and who is now no longer in the Parliament: a tremendous loss to democracy.
The simple fact is that the majority of politicians in the Federal parliament who are openly Monarchist are within the Conservative ranks of the Liberal party.
In fact it is strange that there are politicians who claim to be conservative but are republicans and, as I have said before, how can one be a conservatives and yet, at the same time radically seek to tear down the Crown under which they all serve?
Therefore, the openly monarchist politicians within the Federal parliament are very important to us as they ensure that the Prime Minister, a republican, and the Cabinet, mainly comprising republicans, would feel the consequences of their ire should they move towards a republic.
Of course, the crossbenchers in the Senate are all, except Cory Bernardi and the One Nation Senators, republican - and that includes the South Australian Xenophon team.
Sapphire Jubilee Service in Canberra:
On Sunday, 19 March I went to Canberra for the sole purpose of attending the Sapphire Jubilee Service organised by the Parliamentary Supporters of Constitutional Monarchy which was formed as a result of Brant Rippon and I spending a couple of days lobbying politicians in Canberra in 2014. It was a magnificent choral service and the homily by Archbishop Prowse, Catholic Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn was a fitting tribute to the Queen. Regrettably such words are rarely heard nowadays from Anglican bishops. A copy of the Archbishop’s comments have been included in this month’s newsletter.
The Multicultural Statement:
The Australian government has just issued ‘Australia’s multicultural statement’.
It talks about ‘Our shared story’ and owing our accomplishments as a nation to the contributions of more than 300 different ancestries—from the First Australians to the newest arrivals.” It mentions the foundation of modern Australia, through British and Irish settlement (in the colonial days I rather thought the Irish were British?) and the establishment of our parliamentary democracy, institutions, and law.
BUT nowhere does it mention that our constitution is established under the Crown!
Of course, this is not unexpected. In fact we had written to the Prime Minister to specifically request that any statements regarding multiculturalism or Aboriginal recognition must make mention of the fact that we are a constitutional monarchy.
The problem is that there are republicans right throughout the Coalition government including the persons responsible for the multicultural statement, the Minister for Social Services, Christian Porter MP and his Multicultural Affairs Assistant Minister, Senator Zed Seselja.
No wonder, new citizens not only know nothing about our system of governance under the Crown but obviously are led to supporting a republic when the ministers in charge of them are themselves republicans, despite their having given their allegiance to the Queen to enable them to take up their seat in the parliament. There is a word to describe such persons.
The Australian Monarchist League has tried to overcome this pro-republican blockage by producing a booklet on “The Story of Australia” for schools and new Australians but not having the sort of backing the republicans are attracting, we were unable to obtain the funding required to mass distribute amongst State and Federal MPs and schools.
Issues Facing the Electorate
There are two issues facing the Australian electorate at the moment. The first is in relation to same-sex marriage. This is not a constitutional issue but one of law. However, there is a lot of misinformation put about by politicians and the media in regard to the government’s proposal of holding a plebiscite.
The fact is, a plebiscite is a non-binding poll of the electorate to determine their wishes on a particular matter. A plebiscite cannot change the law. Only the parliament can do that.
The Parliament will decide on the mechanics of a plebiscite, how people are to vote - whether postal, at a polling booth or online - or a combination of two or more of these. It will also determine questions to be asked. Funding may or may not be provided to the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ cases.
If a plebiscite is held then the government is morally - but not legally - bound to follow the dictates of that plebiscite. However, it would be a very brave government which thumbed its nose at the will of the people.
The end result can only be by a vote in the Parliament to amend existing legislation. A plebiscite, as mentioned, has no power other than advise politicians on the thinking of the people.
The other issue is in regard to change to the Constitution to recognise the indigenous people as First Nation or something along those lines - the goalposts seem to change with every taxpayer-funded conference they hold.
The disturbing factor is that many politicians and political activists see the Constitution as a way of making political statements. This should never be. The Australian Constitution is the rulebook for running the country not for grandiose politically-correct statements to suit any particular moment.
Despite many announcements no formal proposal has as yet been put forward. We hear that a number of Aboriginal groups, for there are many, do not want constitutional recognition only as they see that as lacking power. What seems to be proposed is a treaty, or more probably a series of treaties, between the Australian government and the Aboriginal peoples leading up to a constitutional change to create a third tier of Parliament for Aborigines only.
At the moment this is only supposition but seems to be an indication of the way matters are slowly moving.
It is certain that the 50th anniversary of the Aboriginal referendum of 1967 will pass without any constructive development taking place, only more words.
Of course, the years of debate are doing nothing to alleviate the problems of poverty, malnutrition, sickness and lack of education affecting a large proportion of the indigenous population. Surely that should be taking priority over any sort of political dealings? Likewise, should not Aboriginal housing, health and education be a priority for the disbursement of funds received by traditional owners from royalties and the suchlike?
Our stand on the matter of constitutional recognition remains as it is always been and that is: “all under the Crown are equal and none should be any more equal than anyone else.”
As Joseph de Maistre, philosopher at the time of the French Revolution, had said “A constitution that is made for all nations is made for none.” This is something well worth us bearing in mind when faced with proposals to change our Constitution.
The London Branch
In mid-April I will be in the UK, firstly to attend the launch of our London branch on the 25th April - and don’t forget that if you have relatives and friends in the UK please do contact them and suggest they ask us how they can attend (secretary@monarchist.org.au).
The reception will be attended by a number of eminent peers and personages in the United Kingdom including The Rt. Hon. Lord Tebbit CH PC, a former chairman of the Conservative Party and former minister in the Thatcher government.
I will also be speaking at various meetings on Brexit. The main focus of my talks with various business and community groups and also with Commonwealth and Foreign Office officials will be the need for Britain to, as a matter of its sincerity, create a special channel for those citizens of the Queen’s realms, such as Australians, to enter Britain without being shunted towards the Alien’s entrance!. Visa regulations are another matter totally. This is about showing respect to the Queen’s subjects, something I have been urging for nigh on two decades now.
Receipts in Decline
With donations, memberships and general receipts in decline, it is a constant worry as to how we will be able to continue the never-ending battle to retain the Crown within our Constitution.
I therefore close with a comment made by Winston Churchill to Robert Menzies: “Success always demands a greater effort." Surely this is something all monarchists must pay heed to sooner rather than later.
END