Australian monarchists have reacted angrily to news that the prime minister will speak at an event hosted by the Australian Republican Movement, going so far as to predict it will trigger a split within the Liberal party.
Malcolm Turnbull is a founding member, former chairman and life member of the ARM and is scheduled to speak at a dinner to mark the movement’s 25th anniversary and outline its future.
A media release from the Australian Monarchist League on Monday accused Turnbull of “forgetting the reality of politics” now that “one quarter of Australian voters are voting for none [sic] mainstream political parties”.
“His now active support, if the rumours are true, of a republic will throw even more conservative and traditionalist voters into the arms of minor parties, such as the Christian Democrats, One Nation and the Liberty Alliance,” the statement said.
The PM's attendance to @AusRepublic $3k/Gold Table dinner could be the straw that breaks the camel's back https://t.co/F6K2SBPSl6 #auspol
— AML (@Austmonarchist) December 12, 2016
The league’s chairman, Phillip Benwell, told the ABC, it could split the party. However he declined to identify any individual politicians to lead the proposed defection.
“It is a provocative move because he’s thumbing his nose in the eyes of the majority of Liberals who support the constitutional monarchy,” Benwell said.
He said he was not calling on Turnbull to cancel his attendance but was “pointing out it was rather foolish”. He described the prospect of the prime minister putting republicanism back on the political agenda as “something we’ve been fearing”.
The league describes itself on its letterhead as “where the action is and the young people are”.
Australian Monarchist League media release on possible Turnbull republic speech from this morning #auspol pic.twitter.com/1GHDlNqH1O
— Primrose Riordan (@primroseriordan) December 12, 2016
Turnbull was the head of the ARM at the time of the 1999 referendum on Australia becoming a republic and led the unsuccessful yes campaign.
The current chairman of the Australian Republican Movement, Peter FitzSimons, released a statement saying he was “thrilled” by the prime minister’s attendance. “It is an occasion to honour those who’ve got us to this point, and the PM is, of course, at the forefront of our founding fathers and mothers,” he said.
Thrilled to have PM @TurnbullMalcolm join us for our 25th anniversary commemoration #AusRepublic https://t.co/fW2rc8tjVv
— ARM (@AusRepublic) December 12, 2016
“The dinner is also a moment for the ARM to outline its vision for the future. A vision in which Australia takes the lead and completes the journey to full and final independence.
“The ARM has no intention of celebrating its 30th anniversary. Instead the movement is planning the transition to an Australian head of state within the next five years.”
The anniversary dinner on Saturday will be held in the Great Hall of the University of Sydney, with tables costing up to $3,000.
