Philip Benwell, MBE

He had earlier coordinated the Queen Elizabeth Gate Appeal in Australia raising the largest amount of any Commonwealth country other than the UK. The Appeal had been established by Prince Michael of Kent to build the Queen Elizabeth Gates in Hyde Park, London as a tribute to the Queen Mother.

Benwell has written a number of books and papers including:

“In Defence of Australia's Constitutional Monarchy.”
ISBN: 07734-66967 (2003)

“A very public affair – The Australian Constitution and Crown.”
ISBN: 978-0-646-51652-3 (2013/4)

"Australia - Our Country, Our Constitution, Our Governance."
ISBN: 978-0-646-96330-3 (2016).

Prior to his involvement in the Australian Monarchist League, Benwell had been engaged in various community and sporting activities. He was awarded the MBE in 1976 for his work within the community.

His advice on the Australian and British Constitutions has been often sought in Britain and elsewhere. The late Lord Molyneaux of Killead commented that Benwell “is renowned not only in Australia but throughout the Commonwealth for his dedication to sound governance. His first-hand experience of structures in most nations of the world, where his judgment is widely respected, has led to his advice being widely sought in democracies great and small.”

He has written ‘The Wattle Crown’ as a tribute to Her Most Gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Australia, whom he has served in a voluntary capacity for half of his life.

  • published 2023 Conference Auction 2023-11-13 22:39:51 +1100

    2023 Conference Auction

     

     

     

    THE AUCTION WILL BE HELD DURING THE 2023 AML NATIONAL CONFERENCE
    ON SATURDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2023
    IF YOU WILL NOT BE AT THE CONFERENCE WE CAN ACCEPT ONE-TIME BIDS BY EMAIL TO:
    [email protected]
    YOUR BID WILL BE HANDED TO THE AUCTIONEER ON THE DAY

    EMAIL BIDDING WILL CLOSE AT 12 NOON ON FRIDAY 17/11/23

    PLEASE SPECIFY THE LOT NUMBER & DESCRIPTION OF THE ITEM YOU ARE BIDDING ON


    You can access the Conference page here:

    2023 AML National Conference

  • Exclusive King’s Birthday Fundraising Auction

    The AML is proud to present a fundraising Auction exclusively to its Members to celebrate the birthday of King Charles III, King of Australia on 14 November. It is difficult to believe that it has been over a year since the passing of our late sovereign Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of The King, whose years of dedicated service have amply prepared him for his role as sovereign. This auction offers a group of rare royal items from two reigns which are destined to become treasured heirlooms. Not only is this a special opportunity for Members to acquire impressive and beautiful pieces of historic royal memorabilia, it ensures that vital funds can be raised to enable us to face the upcoming republic campaign.

    Our Auction marking the Coronation of the King and Queen was a great success, and we are sure that our Members will dig deep and bid generously once again, with a range of tempting Lots across all price points!

    The Auction opens on Wednesday 1 November 2023 & closes on Tuesday 28 November 2023. Please ensure that enquiries and bids are submitted by Tuesday 28 November 2023 at 5pm AEDT:  [email protected].

     

    Read more
  • published ABC Petition in Petitions & Surveys 2023-09-09 07:41:32 +1000

    A Petition Calling on the Government to appoint an Independent Umpire over the ABC.

     

    We, the undersigned: 

    - Noting the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s appalling breach of its own Charter and community expectations in the coverage of the Coronation of King Charles III by what is, after all, the taxpayer-funded national broadcaster;

    - Noting the expressed massive public outrage at the ABC’s coverage of the Coronation; and

    - Noting the ABC’s high-handed and dismissive attitude to the thousands of complaints received over its coverage of the Coronation. 

    HEREBY respectfully request the Australian Government to urgently amend the legislation pertaining to the ABC to ensure a truly independent ABC Ombudsman (or Inspector-General) is appointed to deal with the ever-growing number of complaints the ABC receives about its bias and general conduct.

    Signed:

  • published Sky News article on the Uluru Statement in The Voice 2023-09-03 11:09:53 +1000

    Sky News article on the Uluru Statement

    This is a Sky News article by Alexander Voltz providing an analysis of the Uluru Statement and accompanying documentation obtained under Freedom of Information from the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA). 

    You can see the accompanying documentation on this website at: Uluru Statement Supporting Documentation

    Alexander is Deputy Chairman of the Queensland Branch of the Australian Monarchist League.

    The spaces in the news article relate to implanted videos which did not copy into the PDF document.





  • The Uluru Statement with accompanying documents

    This is the PDF of the Uluru Statement with accompanying documentation obtained under Freedom of Information.

    (When loaded click the popout sign in the right hand corner.)

     

     

  • Rule of Law Video on the Voice Referendum

    Below is a YouTube video produced by The Rule of Law Education Centre on 'The Constitution and the Upcoming Referendum.'

     

  • The ABC Coronation Republic Broadcast

    Below are copies of the communications between the Australian Monarchist League and the Chair of the ABC, Ms Ita Buttrose. 

    Read more
  • published Volunteering for the AML Office in Petitions & Surveys 2023-07-13 21:08:16 +1000

    Volunteering for the AML Office

     

    THIS IS FOR SYDNEY RESIDENTS - VOLUNTEER GROUPS FOR OTHER STATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY


    AML has a new office and we need people to help man it as well as assist in the preliminaries of our campaign against a republic.

    If you live in Sydney and can volunteer or to offer your services in other ways, it would be appreciated if you would complete the survey below.

    Thank you

  • Regarding the Departure of Stan Grant

    Stan Grant’s Departure from the ABC

    Racism in all its forms is to be abhorred and condemned. So it is with any attack on Stan Grant based on the grounds of his race.
    The condemnation rightly directed at Stan Grant for abusing his privileged position as an ABC employee to hijack the coverage of the historic coronation broadcast nevertheless stands.

    Australians were rightly appalled at his commandeering of the occasion of the coronation of the King of Australia for his gratuitous and outrageously jaundiced monologues seeking to lay the blame for every perceivable injustice at the feet of the Crown which should somehow be held responsible for events over two centuries ago.

    Viewers of the ABC were rightly expecting their tax payer funded national broadcaster to provide an unbiased factual broadcast explaining the rich history of the coronation parts of which date back one thousand years. All the commercial stations did so as did the ABC’s equivalent in the BBC. Why couldn’t the ABC?

    Read more
  • Address to the Victorian Parliament

     


    Statement On The Coronation Of King Charles III
    by
    Beverley McArthur MP


    The opportunity to speak in the Victorian Parliament about the Coronation of King Charles III was important.

    The coronation assembled a diversity of people and places from across the globe. Leaders and volunteers were equals in the observance of a service of solemnity and celebration.

    The coronation marks the crowning of our Head of State. Our parliament has affirmed its support of the King and in so doing, the success of our existing constitutional arrangements.

    Constitutional monarchy works. It survives and thrives not just here but across the world – and not just in times of peace and plenty but under stresses of economic crises, war and emergencies which cause many other forms of constitution to collapse or to morph into totalitarian rule, despotism and dictatorship.

    Of course, it would never happen here, especially in Victoria.

    New Zealand, Canada, the UK, Belgium, Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and others support a constitutional monarchy. They work very well.

    It works not just because the monarch sits above democracy, or overrides it, but because an external figurehead provides a safeguard and a defensive mechanism which tempers the excesses of ego and demands for short-term expediency which electoral politics create. It represents stability and guards against the excesses of individual power which have led to the downfall of so many previously legitimate governments.

    It is almost a paradox.

    It is in the lack of direct executive power that our ceremonial head of state strengthens our constitution. Parliament retains and remains the ultimate power with our faith placed in the collective wisdom of elected MPs. Our system does not invest itself in the individual ego of an elected head of state.

    Naturally, the most likely types wanting that power, the recognition, are politicians. Can you imagine President Rudd, or President Turnbull?

    Our current appointed Governors and Governors-General understand their roles of service. They are from diverse backgrounds, far more so than Prime Ministers and elected Presidents. In Victoria, for example, the last three holders of the office have been immigrants and children of immigrants.

    In our Constitutional Monarchy, no individual is granted a position which undermines the legitimacy of Parliament and those directly elected by the people.

    We should be proud of King Charles and our constitutional monarchy because it works. We are an independent, sovereign, successful nation and we owe the bulk of that to constitutional monarchy.

    We have more to do as a nation, and no system is perfect. But we would be wrong to say our success isn’t extraordinary.

    Half of our current population was born overseas or has an overseas-born parent. We are defined not by race, religion or culture but by shared values of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and equality of opportunity – a fair go. Some days we are better at it than others.

    Our constitutional monarchy works in an Australian way, born overseas but forged locally to fit like a national glove. This successful, stable nation has not evolved by chance or mistake; it has evolved precisely because of our existing system. It is not perfect – but it is frankly speaking – pretty bloody good.

    King Charles will be a great King. He has learned from perhaps the greatest Queen. Her dedication was superlative.

    This is a King who loves Australia – was schooled here, has been her 16 times and even wanted to buy land here – a decision rejected in case it caused envy in other Commonwealth countries.

    King Charles will be a great representative of a great system.

    Long live the King.

     

     

     



  • published Addresses to the Parliaments in The Coronation 2023-05-18 08:53:16 +1000

    Addresses to the Parliaments

     

    Australian Addresses to the Federal & State Parliaments


    Here you will find a number of Addresses made in the Federal and State parliaments congratulating Charles III on his coronation as the King of Australia.


    The Victorian Parliament

  • published Monarchists Pursue ABC Through FOI in Media Releases 2023-05-16 16:06:56 +1000

    Monarchists Pursue ABC Through FOI

    The Australian Monarchist League has made a formal FOI request under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act (1982) (FOI Act) which provides a right to request access to certain documents held by the ABC in regard to its pre-Coronation broadcast. Details of the League’s request are included hereunder.

    Former Senator, the Hon. Eric Abetz, now chairman of the AML No Republic campaign, has stated, “The outpouring of public outrage at the hi-jacking of the coronation by the ABC, which was completely out of step with every other broadcaster including the BBC, requires a full disclosure as to how this pitiful turn of events was allowed to eventuate at the taxpayer-funded national broadcaster.

    “This freedom of information request will expose the twisted thinking and those responsible for this unprecedented and unprincipled takeover of what should have been a factual commentary on an exceptionally historic occasion. The commandeering of the broadcast into a monologue of everything that might be wrong with our great country and then depositing it all at the feet of our constitutional monarchy was both blatantly absurd and an abuse of the occasion.

    “Any delay or obfuscation by the ABC hierarchy relating to this request for transparency will be met with similar public outrage and do even more reputational damage to the taxpayer-funded broadcaster.”

    END

    Read more
  • donated 2023-05-15 08:42:25 +1000
  • published ABC Petition 2023-05-11 00:27:14 +1000

    Petition to the ABC over its Coronation Program Attack on the King & The Crown

     



    ABC CALLED UPON TO APOLOGISE TO AUSTRALIANS FOR ITS BIASED COVERAGE OF THE CORONATION 


    This is a petition to the Board and Management of the ABC calling upon them to apologise for its biased coverage of the coronation of King Charles III with a demand that such hi-jacking of a significant historical event never be allowed to occur again.

    ‘The historic and momentous occasion of the crowning of Australia’s King was not an opportunity for elements within the ABC to pursue their pet topics and tortured view of history without even trying to provide a semblance of balance. The taxpayer deserved better as did the reputation of the ABC that has a strict charter by which to abide which was flagrantly disregarded,’ said AML Campaign Chair, Eric Abetz.

    Nothing less than a full independent inquiry into the circumstances of this highly inappropriate hi-jacking of the broadcasting of the coronation is required. This was history in the making. History was unfolding before our eyes with a gathering of world leaders second to none. Instead of celebrating the occasion and informing viewers of who was arriving and their position and the traditions associated with the various elements of the coronation viewers were subjected to a diatribe of monologues by ABC personnel peddling their pet subjects backing each other’s views. Knowing there would be a huge audience for the coronation it appears the occasion was deliberately used to pursue an agenda to denigrate the constitutional monarchy which has served Australia so exceptionally well for well over a century.

    The universal feedback received has been that the ABC has done itself irreparable damage but some of its tattered reputation might be salvageable with an unequivocal apology and inquiry to fully expose the circumstances which allowed for this significant occasion to be so derailed,’ Mr Abetz said.

    We appeal to anyone who was outraged by the ABC coverage of the Coronation to please sign the petition below which will be sent to the Chairman and Board of the ABC in the form of a public letter.

    To the Chairman and Board of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
    700 Harris St, Ultimo NSW 2007

    We the undersigned call upon the Board and Management of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to:

    1. Apologise to the taxpayers and people of Australia for the manner in which the coverage of the coronation of Australia’s King Charles III was presented;
    2. Acknowledge that the coverage presented was in clear breach of the ABC’s own editorial standards which require independence and integrity together with impartiality;
    3. Acknowledge that the coverage was not fair and honest in its dealings on the occasion of the coronation, also in breach of its editorial policies;
    4. Acknowledge that the behaviours outlined above have substantially undermined the trust the viewing public may have had in their taxpayer funded national broadcaster;
    5. Discipline and counsel those ABC staff members responsible for this outstandingly bad decision to hi-jack such a momentous and historic occasion; and
    6. Ensure that such an egregious abuse will not be repeated by holding an independent Inquiry.

  • published Monarchists condemn NSW Premier in Media Releases 2023-05-07 09:27:29 +1000

    Monarchists condemn NSW Premier

    Monarchists condemn NSW Premier for not lighting up the Opera House for Coronation

    Monarchists from around the State who voted Labor, now regret doing so in view of the Premier’s decision, supposedly on the basis of cost, to cancel the lighting of the Opera House to commemorate the coronation of the King of Australia, who is also separately King of New South Wales and the other five Australian States.

    Read more
  • Monarchists Accuse Republicans of Unacceptable Tactics and Stunts

    Monarchists Accuse Republicans of Unacceptable Tactics and Stunts
    REF: ARM push for King Charles III to formally apologise for acts of genocide & colonisation by Royal family

    Read more
  • ABC CORONATION PANEL BLATANTLY STACKED

    ABC CORONATION PANEL BLATANTLY STACKED Australia’s leading member-based monarchist organisation has slammed the decision of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to give pride of place to republican activists and include just two monarchists on its live coronation speaking panel of nine, claiming the move is nothing short of un-Australian. Read more
  • published Coronation Church Services in The Coronation 2023-05-04 14:16:56 +1000

    Coronation Church Services

     

     

    This is the Prayer Card produced by Cardinal Nichol which has been distributed to every Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales

     

    CORONATION CHURCH SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA

    Below are services we have been notified of or are otherwise aware

    AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

    CHURCH: St. Paul’s Manuka South Canberra, corner Captain Cook Cr and Canberra Avenue, Griffith, ACT
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 5.00 p.m.
    DETAIL: Choral Evensong to celebrate the Coronation featuring coronation music

    CHURCH: St John’s Anglican Church, Reid, 2612
    DATE: Sunday 7 May
    TIME: 5pm
    DETAIL: A service of choral evensong


    NEW SOUTH WALES

    CHURCH: St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 10.30 a.m.
    DETAIL: Choral Matins for Coronation of King Charles III
    LIVESTREAM: https://youtube.com/live/D2QeVok_lXI?feature=share

    CHURCH: Christ Church St. Laurence, Railway Square, Sydney
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 6.30 p.m.
    DETAIL: Solemn Evensong & Te Deum in Thanksgiving for the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor
    LIVESTREAM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnZ48OC0Z8o

    CHURCH: St. Saviour’s Cathedral, Goulburn
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 4.00 p.m.
    DETAIL: Evensong for Coronation of King Charles III

    CHURCH: St. Alban’s Cathedral, Griffith, NSW
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 6.00 p.m.
    DETAIL: A Service of Evensong to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III followed by a festive supper in the Hall

    CHURCH: Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 6.00 p.m.
    DETAIL: Sung Evensong reflecting the King’s Coronation.

    CHURCH: St John the Evangelist, Carthage Street, East Tamworth, NSW
    DATE: Saturday, 6th May
    TIME: 5.00 pm AEST
    DETAIL: Sung Evensong to mark the Coronation of King Charles III.

    CHURCH: Christ Church Cathedral, Grafton
    DATE: Saturday, May 6th, 2023
    TIME: at 5 p.m.
    DETAIL: Civic service to mark the Coronation of King Charles III

    CHURCH: St. Mark’s Church, Hunter’s Hill (8 a.m.) and All Saints’ Church, Hunters
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
    DETAIL: Holy Communion with Prayers of Thanksgiving for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

     



    QUEENSLAND

    CHURCH: St. John’s Cathedral, Brisbane
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 5 p.m.
    DETAIL: A Service of Evensong to mark the Coronation of His Majesty Charles III King of Australia followed by light refreshments.
    LINK: https://www.facebook.com/events/149104967823758
    LIVESTREAM: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNK4UfKhyzHdskN-s_Q9e4Q?fbclid=IwAR2PPrbV_S18mhkx0gpYxE8ZnIwyda5oja5A69xlO60-6kxLRbYkbLjy9IE

    CHURCH: St. James’ Cathedral, Townsville
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 6 p.m.
    DETAIL: Festive Evensong with Choir and Chamber Ensemble


    TASMANIA

    CHURCH: St. George’s Church, Battery Point, Hobart
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 10 a.m.
    DETAIL: Service of celebration and prayer for the coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Consort Camilla with morning tea to follow



    VICTORIA

    CHURCH: St. Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne City
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 4 p.m.
    DETAIL: Special Service to mark the Coronation of King Charles III.
    LINK: https://cathedral.org.au/2023/04/18/special-service-to-mark-the-coronation-of-king-charles-iii/

    CHURCH: Christ Church, 22 Grey Street, Hamilton
    DATE: Saturday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 10.30 a.m.
    DETAIL: Mass to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III

    CHURCH: All Saints’ Church, 2 Chapel Street, East St Kilda
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 5 p.m.
    DETAIL: Coronation Thanksgiving Service of Evensong followed by Champagne Reception
    LINK: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=1025948&

    CHURCH: St. Andrew’s Church, corner of New Street and St. Andrew’s Street, Brighton
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: 10 a.m.
    DETAIL: Coronation Mass

    CHURCH: Grace Chapel, 86-88 Archies Creek Road, Archies Creek
    DATE: Saturday 6 May 2023
    TIME: 10am
    DETAIL: Coronation Service 10 am. Devonshire Tea to follow

    CHURCH: St Pauls East Kew Parish Hall at 63 Windella Avenue East Kew

    DATE: Sunday May 7th, 2023
    TIME: 2-4pm
    DETAIL: To honour and mark the occasion of HM King Charles Coronation will host a community “High Tea” to encourage people to come together to mark this historic and important occasion.

    CHURCH: RAFT Anglican Church, 131 Taylors Lane, Rowville, VIC, 3178
    DATE: Sunday 7 May
    TIME: 8:30 am & 10:30 am
    DETAIL: https://www.raftchurch.org.au, [email protected] or (03) 9764 2573

    CHURCH: Ss Johns' Anglican Church, corner of Pollack & Hesse streets, Colac
    DATE: Sunday 7 May 2023.
    TIME:  11 AM
    DETAIL: Service of holy Communion with prayers for the Coronation of King Charles III. followed by champagne morning tea. RSVP: [email protected]


    CHURCH: Holy Trinity Balaclava and Elwood, 175-177 Chapel Street, St Kilda 3182
    DATE: Saturday May 6
    TIME: TBA
    DETAIL: Pimms and Hymns’ singalong in the church including “favourite” hymns of members of the Royal FamilyWe’ll then gather at a big screen in our adjacent tenanted hall which operates as Trinity St Kilda to watch together - cover charge to manage our costs and add to our #openthedoors restoration fund for our very old church doors.

    CHURCH: Holy Trinity Balaclava and Elwood, 175-177 Chapel Street, St Kilda 3182
    DATE: Sunday 7 May
    TIME: 10.30 am
    DETAIL: Sung Eucharist
    CHURCH: Trinity College Chapel, 100 Royal Parade, Parkville DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 5 p.m.
    DETAIL: Coronation Evensong sung by the Choirs of Trinity College Chapel and St. Andrew’s, Brighton

    CHURCH: Holy Trinity Church, 49 High Street, Ararat
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 9.30 a.m.
    DETAIL: Holy Communion followed by Royal Morning Tea (10.45 a.m.)

    CHURCH: Cathedral Church of Christ the King, Ballarat
    DATE: Sunday, April 30th, 2023 (passed)
    TIME: at 5 p.m.
    DETAIL: Coronation Evensong

    CHURCH: Christ Church, Castlemaine
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 5.00 p.m.
    DETAIL: Choral Evensong with music reflecting Coronation

    CHURCH: St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Bendigo
    DATE: Saturday, May 27th, 2023
    TIME: at 5.00 p.m.
    DETAIL: A special service commemorating the Coronation of King Charles III. The organist and choir from Trinity College Melbourne will be the visiting musicians, and the preacher will be Reverend Bob Darrenbecher.


    WESTERN AUSTRALIA

    CHURCH: St. George’s Cathedral, Perth
    DATE: Sunday, May 7th, 2023
    TIME: at 5 p.m.
    DETAIL: Festal Choral Evensong to mark the Coronation followed by Champagne Reception
    LINK: https://www.perth.anglican.org/news-and-events/events/coronation-evensong

    CHURCH: St. Boniface Cathedral, Bunbury
    DATE: Friday, May 5th, 2023
    TIME: at 5.30 p.m.
    DETAIL: Prayer Vigil ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III

     

     

    Thanks to Jeffery Fong for compiling this list

Philip Benwell
Philip Benwell has been the national chairman of the Australian Monarchist League for thirty years and is the longest serving head of any organisation engaged in defending the Australian Constitution and Crown.