Pledge Allegiance to Australians, Not Foreign Queen

Parliamentarians today will pledge their allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II instead of the Australian people – a requirement that demonstrates the urgent need to update our Constitution.

Our Parliamentarians’ allegiance should be unquestionably with the Australian people. Australians elect them to serve our nation’s interest and the interests of their constituents, not to serve a foreign monarch. The Australian nation, its people and its interests are not even mentioned in the Oath or Affirmation.

The Oath/Affirmation comes from a time when Australia was a British colony. National Director of the Australian Republic Movement Sandy Biar said that many Australians would be shocked to find out elected members did not need to pledge to serve them or the nation and would be pledging allegiance to a foreign monarch instead.

“Australians elect members of parliament to serve us. These elected members should pledge to serve Australia and its interests instead of pledging allegiance to a foreign monarch.” Mr Biar said.

“We expect our elected leaders to put Australia first. As the head of state for 15 countries, it’s something our Head of State Queen Elizabeth II simply cannot do.

“All Australians should have the opportunity to choose a Head of State who will put them first and give an oath or affirmation to do so.” Mr Biar said.

In January the Australian Republic Movement proposed that members of parliament be required to give the following oath/affirmation instead of an oath or affirmation to the Queen:

OATH

I, A.B., do swear that I will be loyal to the Commonwealth of Australia and the Australian people whose Constitution and laws I shall uphold. SO HELP ME GOD!

AFFIRMATION

I, A.B., do affirm that I will be loyal to the Commonwealth of Australia and the Australian people whose Constitution and laws I shall uphold.

SUPPORTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Parliamentarians must currently make the following Oath/Affirmation (contained in the Schedule of the Australian Constitution) before taking their seat in the Federal Parliament (the Affirmation does not make reference to a deity):

Schedule of the Australian Constitution

Oath

I, A.B., do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors according to law. SO HELP ME GOD!

Affirmation

I, A.B., do solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors according to law.

(NOTE – The name of the King or Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for the time being is to be substituted from time to time.)

New Australian citizens make the following pledge to the Australian people:

From this time forward [under God],

I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,

whose democratic beliefs I share,

whose rights and liberties I respect, and

whose laws I will uphold and obey.

What the ARM is campaigning for:

The Australian Republic Movement proposes that Australia’s Head of State should be chosen by Australians from a shortlist nominated by Federal, State and Territory parliaments.

The ARM’s complete policy reforms can be found at www.republic.org.au/policy.