TY - JOUR
T1 - Imagining an affirmational republic
AU - Morris, Shireen
N1 - Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.
PY - 2021/9
Y1 - 2021/9
N2 - This article explores the idea of an affirmational republic which, both structurally and symbolically, affirms rather than rejects Australia’s British history and heritage while equally celebrating the nation’s Indigenous inheritance and multicultural achievements. Part II explores the history of republican advocacy to unpack the common, predominantly symbolic, justifications for republican reform. It then elucidates dual, separate but connected, purposes – one small and practical and one big and symbolic – to show that each purpose may entail a different solution. Part III discerns lessons from the failed 1999 referendum, to help guide what an affirmational republic could involve. The proposed approach is developed further in Part IV. Addressing the practical purpose, I suggest the title ‘Governor-General’ could be retained (instead of ‘President’) and provide arguments against direct election. Addressing the symbolic purpose, I suggest an inspiring national Declaration could be better achieved extra-constitutionally, as the Referendum Council recommended in 2017.
AB - This article explores the idea of an affirmational republic which, both structurally and symbolically, affirms rather than rejects Australia’s British history and heritage while equally celebrating the nation’s Indigenous inheritance and multicultural achievements. Part II explores the history of republican advocacy to unpack the common, predominantly symbolic, justifications for republican reform. It then elucidates dual, separate but connected, purposes – one small and practical and one big and symbolic – to show that each purpose may entail a different solution. Part III discerns lessons from the failed 1999 referendum, to help guide what an affirmational republic could involve. The proposed approach is developed further in Part IV. Addressing the practical purpose, I suggest the title ‘Governor-General’ could be retained (instead of ‘President’) and provide arguments against direct election. Addressing the symbolic purpose, I suggest an inspiring national Declaration could be better achieved extra-constitutionally, as the Referendum Council recommended in 2017.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85116430045&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
VL - 44
SP - 1202
EP - 1238
JO - University of New South Wales Law Journal
JF - University of New South Wales Law Journal
SN - 0313-0096
IS - 3
ER -