Workers Online
Workers Online
Workers Online
  Issue No 31 Official Organ of LaborNet 17 September 1999  

 --

 --

 --

Letters to the Editor

A Lukewarm Republic


Having spent the month of August 1999 in Canada I was surprised to see the level of interest Canadians displayed in the push for a Republic in Australia and in the impending referendum. Even Conrad Black's right wing " The National Post " ran a well-researched and considered piece on the issue.

Yet some of the detail was not readily apparent and doubtless the tyranny of distance played its part. For example in my discussions with Canadians, there was genuine surprise when the ARM model was described.

In fact interest waned when the two thirds voting by the politicians was explained. There was general amazement expressed to the fact that the President is not to be elected by popular vote.

It would appear not a lot of Canadians identify with the Monarchy.

However in the context of changing to a Canadian Head of State, a popular vote is seen as an inherent right.

When the hoax that is the ARM model became clear, events Downunder didn't seem that seminal come November, after all.

Yours faithfully

ANDREW WILLIAMSON


------

*   View entire issue - print all of the articles!

*   Issue 31 contents

In this issue
Features
*  Interview: Sadly Vindicated
Labor�s foreign affairs spokesman Laurie Brereton has spent the past year warning that East Timor would explode without a UN peacekeeping force. Now he�s had to watch his predictions come true.
*
*  International: In the Bunker
One of the last reporters to leave East Timor, Workers Online's HT Lee remembers the week that Dili burned.
*
*  Republic: Tarred With the Same Brush
Neville Wran asks why it is that the most fervant monarchists are also the most eager union-bashers.
*
*  Unions: Hard Labour
Prisoner educators argue more attention needs to be given to rehabilitation through teaching, but they�re facing an uphill battle to convince authorities.
*
*  History: Labour and Community
A history conference in Wollongong next month will look at the changing role for labour into the next century.
*
*  Review: Bobbin' Up - 40 Years On
Forty years after its first publicaton and several European translations Bobbin Up, a classic of industrial fiction, is coming home.
*
*  Satire: East Timor Poll Triumph: Support for Jakarta Up 21 Per Cent
The Indonesian Government has declared that it is pleased with the result of the independence referendum in which 21% of East Timorese voted in support of maintaining links with Indonesia.
*

News
»  Asylum Call for Independence Supporters
*
»  Nurses Collect Vital Medical Supplies
*
»  Industrial Faction for Pre-Conference Caucus
*
»  Lees Backs Freeloader Laws
*
»  Outsourcing Decision - Banks Under the Gun
*
»  Reith Forces Truckies to Speed
*
»  He Talks the Talk - But Can He Walk the Walk?
*
»  Commission Tells AGC to Get Into the Nineties
*
»  Cost-Cutting Puts Clinical Waste in Landfill
*
»  Prisons Reject Free Computers
*
»  US Defence Giant Eyes Welfare Sector
*

Columns
»  Guest Report
*
»  Sport
*
»  Trades Hall
*
»  Piers Watch
*

Letters to the editor
»  TWU Wrong on Union Bans
*
»  A Lukewarm Republic
*
»  Compo Premium Cheats Should be Policed
*
»  Destroying Education
*

What you can do

Notice Board
- Check out the latest events

Latest Issue

View entire latest issue
- print all of the articles!

Previous Issues

Subject index

Search all issues

Enter keyword(s):
  


Workers Online - 2nd place Labourstart website of the year


BossWatch


Wobbly Radio



[ Home ][ Notice Board ][ Search ][ Previous Issues ][ Latest Issue ]

© 1999-2000 Labor Council of NSW

LaborNET is a resource for the labour movement provided by the Labor Council of NSW

URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/31/letters2_two.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005

[ Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Credits ]

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW

 *LaborNET*

 Labor Council of NSW

[Workers Online]

[Social Change Online]