Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
By Benjamin T. Jones, Redback, $22.99
The ongoing debate over whether Australia Day should be celebrated on January 26 has attracted a lot of attention. As opinions keep coming, This Time takes a look at the politics of some unresolved issues swirling around Australia Day.
Primarily, the subjects are the republic and reconciliation. For good measure, we check the health of Australian slang along the way.
One could say to propose an Australian should be our head of state doesn’t seem revolutionary. Some then would ask, “Isn’t that already the case?” The answer could be with the flip of a coin.
The seeds of republicanism go right back to the early days of the Australian colonies, but despite several attempts – the last one in 1999 with the referendum – we’ve never managed to get the idea across the line.
Jones charts a path to an independent future. He reveals the fascinating early history of the Australian republican movement of the 1850s and its larger-than-life characters. He shows why we need a new model for a transformed, multicultural nation and discusses the best way to choose an Australian head of state.
This is an important book about an important Australian campaign. Telling it as it should be told: “as the story of Australia’s long journey towards its own best self”.
Electionists believe the spirit of republicanism is active participation. They do not want politicians to simply choose a head of state; instead, they desire a system in which the people are involved.
It’s commanding and persuasive.
