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Nov. 26, 2007 - Toronto - Kevin Rudd and his
Australian Labor Party swept to power on the weekend,
revitalizing the debate in that country over ending the
monarchy. Rudd is a staunch republican and has promised
to hold a new republic referendum, possibly by 2010.
Republic
supporters are also thrilled with even more good news;
that another prominent republican has emerged as a
front-runner to lead the opposition.
Greg
Barns, a former chair of the Australian Republican
Movement (ARM) and
campaign director
of the 1999 referendum, was reached by Citizens for a
Canadian Republic (CCR) for a comment on the
developments:
"The
possibility of Australia having its own head of state
has taken a quantum leap with the election of republican
Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister," said Barns.
"And if
the Liberal Party, defeated at the election, chooses
Malcolm Turnbull as its new leader, it will make Mr.
Rudd's job easier," he added. "Mr. Turnbull is the
former Chair of the Australian Republican Movement."
CCR's
national director, Tom Freda, was equally pleased at the
recent news.
"I know
the leaders of all the Commonwealth republican movements
have been following this election very closely and I can
say with certainty that what's happening right now in
Australia has us all very excited about the expected
positive fall-out in our countries."
"However," said Freda, "I must say we're also a bit
envious at how Australia's dynamic leaders have taken
the issue of the monarchy by the horns and are treating
it with the urgency it deserves. At the moment, opinion
polls on ending the monarchy are even higher here than
in Australia so we believe it's just a matter of time
before Canada sees the same level of debate."
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