Republic leader: Heartland a key

The head of the Australian Republic Movement has appealed to western Victorians to get behind a push for an Australian-elected head of state.

Award-winning and outspoken author Peter Fitzsimons, whose published titles include the story of Eureka on the Victorian goldfields, told The Weekly Advertiser that regions such as the Wimmera represented the country’s national heartland.

He said he was familiar with Ballarat region and agreed western Victoria had historically played a major role in establishing Australian independence ideals.

He also understood that much of the region maintained conservative views.

“The thing is, we need the Australian heartland with us,” he said.

“Consider this, your area, has generated many fine Australians. How is it that kids in your area can have ambitions to do or be anything in the world – be it becoming an astronaut, finding a cure for cancer, winning an Oscar and so on – but the one thing they can’t have ambitions for is an aspiration to be elected as Australia’s head of state.

“That’s because that right is reserved exclusively for one family member of English aristocrats living in a palace in England. This might have been fine and appropriate for a group of colonies but it’s now the 21st century and surely we can run our own show.

“We need to get the job done and we need our heartland in.”

Mr Fitzsimons was referring to Australian constitutional governance where Australia’s Governor-general represents British and Australian monarch Queen Elizabeth II.

The Crown appoints the Governor-general, who must be an Australian citizen, on advice from the Australian Prime Minister.

Mr Fitzsimons made the comments on the back of The Australian Republic Movement launching a major national advertising campaign.

The Australian Monarchist League has quickly denounced the promotion.

The league’s national chair Philip Benwell said the republican advertisement was a ‘total’ waste of money.

He said Mr Fitzsimons should outline how becoming a republic would better the life of everyday and indigenous Australians.

Sir Peter Cosgrove is Australia’s Governor-general.