The Australian Monarchist League has for years played a
crucial part in the campaign to defend the Constitution.
Established in Australia in 1993, our organization has steadily
developed into a potent force upholding the educational and
cultural aspects of our Constitutional Monarchy adopting a
prominent role in opposing what had become under the Keating
Government, "Republicanism by stealth" where, without reference
to the People, Federal and State Governments removed the
symbols and traditions of our Constitutional Monarchy all of
which are powerful forces ensuring responsible government.
The League was instrumental in the successful lobby campaign
to block the efforts of the Carr Government to amend the Oath
of Allegiance in New South Wales State Oaths.
It was active in opposing the removal of The Queen's
Portrait from Government offices and Embassies overseas and
successfully lobbied the Minister for Foreign Affairs to ensure
that where Heads of Mission wish to display a photograph, it
should be of The Queen or the Governor General.
When the Keating Government ordered Commonwealth Government
Bookshops to stop selling photographs of The Queen, resulting
in members of the public finding it virtually impossible to
obtain pictures of their Sovereign, the Monarchist League
reproduced and distributed Sir William Dargie's renowned
portrait of Her Majesty in the Australian Wattle Dress.
Immediately following upon the election of the Howard
Government, the League was unremitting in its lobbying to
remedy this situation and in July 1996 the Government
re-instated the free distribution of portraits of Her Majesty
through Government bookshops.
The League has sponsored the establishment of The Foundation
for Australian Constitutional Research and Studies, to, without
bias, encourage young people to study the Constitution and to
understand the implications of potential change which we
believe of particular importance when only 18% of the
population are reported to know something about our
Constitution or system of Government. Each year the Foundation
organises a very popular Essay Competition on Constitutional
subjects amongst all High Schools in Australia.
We were instrumental in lobbying the Government to hold a
Constitutional Convention as we (successfully) believed that
this would provide a public forum to expose the disarray
amongst the Republicans and also 'out' Liberal and National
Parliamentarians who supported a Republic.
The League has successfully reinstated the holding of
special church services throughout Australia to celebrate such
occasions as The Queen's Birthday, anniversaries and other
significant occasions in the life of our Royal Family.
We were the third largest group represented at the
Convention. Our team was led by Brigadier Alf Garland AM,
former National President of the RSL.
The League is now engaged in the most important political
campaign of this century for we are engaged upon a battle to
retain our tried and trusty system of Government by
Constitutional Monarchy at the Referendum on the 6th November
1999.
However effective the advertising campaign, votes will be
lost if voters enter the booths on Polling Day without a How to
Vote Card encouraging them to Vote NO. There are over 7,500
polling booths throughout Australia which means that more than
100,000 volunteers will need to be mobilised.
Obviously no one organisation can handle this enormous task
alone and the League has established an Alliance liaising with
many supportive groups to organise the manning of polling
booths and the distribution of How to Vote material.
At the time of publishing this brochure we have no paid
staff whatsoever and we operate solely on voluntary help. We
must raise a minimum of one million dollars to adequately put
our case to the People against overwhelming odds. We therefore
appeal to all those who value our democratic traditions and
heritage to support us in our fight to retain our Constitution
and our Monarchy.
Click here for the membership and
support form.
