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Revision as of 00:50, 17 June 2006 by AML (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Australian Monarchist League was founded in 1943 to support the role of the Crown in the Australia's constitutional system. It was originally affiliated with the International Monarchist League, but severed ties with that organization in 1993.
The League has some 2,500 members across Australia, and claims an additional 20,000 supporters. It has Branches in each State and the ACT, and is headquartered in Sydney. It is a not-for-profit organisation and all office bearers, including the National Chairman/CEO, are elected by the membership and serve on a voluntary basis.
It played an important role in the 'No Republic' campaign during the lead up to Australia's 1999 Republic Referendum. The referendum was defeated with 54.4% of electors voting 'no'. However, lobbying against changes to the Oath of Office in New South Wales that removed references to the Queen was ultimately unsuccessful; the Bill making the necessary changes to the NSW Constitution was passed on 7 March 2006.
The League is largely known through promotion in the media by its National Chairman, Philip Benwell MBE. Benwell is the author of In Defence of Australia's Constitutional Monarchy, (ISBN 0773466967) which was published by Mellen Press in 2003. According to data published on the League's website, Mr Benwell personally bridges the organization's annual funding deficits.
See also
- Australians for Constitutional Monarchy
- Australian Constitution
- Australian Constitutional History
- Constitutional Monarchy
- Monarchist League
- Monarchist League of Canada