Youmaton has met with members of the Australian Republican Movement in Adelaide today to give a speech on the future of the republican movement, and how the goal can be achieved of having an Australian head of state

“Hello my friends, thank you so much for inviting me to speak to you in this great city. It is within this day that we come together despite our differences, despite who we are or where we come from, despite our past or our finances, despite as aspects, to unite under one goal. The goal of achieving an Australian Republic, and a rightful Australian head of state. When we last had the referendum, when Australians last had their say, we were divided. The pro-monarchy government used its power to write the question in a way as to inflict doubt and fear into the minds of Australian voters, and used its powers to split those who supported the republic. After the 1999 loss, the republican movement fractured into political isolation, a once great movement now cast into the shadows never to be seen again, a reminder of a true goal once wished for. Since then, many things have changed, the entire political landscape has shifted from what it used to be, to a land much more open to change and progress, one ready for a referendum.”

“Fellow Australian republicans, I call on you all. Look away from your differences, look away from party lines, look away from what seeks to divide us. In order to achieve this goal, and in order to secure a fully independent Australia, we must unite and rise. No longer can we fight over this issue, we must come together if we want to achieve our common goal, a true Australian republic. There has been division over what model we wish to use, how far we go in making changes, and how such an Australia head of state would come into power, through appointment or direct election. I call to those who support the McGarvie model, the Youma-Forza model, or any other model out there, we must come together for this common goal, we can not let the monarchists win again. Whilst personally I support a directly elected head of state, through a fully preferential system, I realise that at this current time not everyone is convinced on this matter. In order to achieve our republic, one for the people, we must unite under a simple system to remove ties to Britain, once that is achieved we can focus on future goals of reform. With me I hold a copy of a bill that will achieve our goal, a bill that will establish an Australian republic for all of us. I call for unity in this time, so that we may achieve this, so that we can finally become fully independent and free from the monarchy.”

“This is my promise to all of you here today. If I get into parliament this election, I will propose this bill and do absolutely everything I can to get a referendum called on this issue. It is time we finally got an Australian republic, it is time to fight for this belief and stand up for the independence of Australia! Together we can make this difference, together we can make this change, together we can change the future for all of us!”