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Australian Monarchist League

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The Australian Monarchist League was founded in 1943 to support the role of the Crown in 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. Due to its no-nonsense approach on the position of The Crown in the Australian Constitution and its indefatigable support of The Queen and the Prince of Wales, it has, over recent years, attracted large numbers of young people and has been modifying its operations to cater to their particular interests, including the establishment of a Forum at www.monarchist-league.com.au.

The Australian Monarchist League 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. The League receives no public or corporate funding whatsoever and is financed solely by subscriptions and contributions from its members. Anyone subscribing to the concept of Constitutional Monarchy in Australia is welcome to join the League. Annual Membership is A$30 or A$15 concession. All monies received are receipted.

The League recently established a Trust with a number of prominent Australian businessmen as Trustees. The purpose of the Trust is to raise and invest substantial contributions to be used only in the event of a plebiscite and/or future referendum.

It was the third largest grouping at the Constitutional Convention and played a very important role in the 'No Republic' campaign during the lead up to Australia's 1999 Republic Referendum which was defeated with 54.4% of electors voting 'NO' nationally. The Referendum also failed in all States.

The website of the League www.monarchist.org.au is a popular source of information on the Australian Constitution and on the Westminster system in general. The League describes Australia as the best country in the world attributing this to its unique heritage and above all to its Constitution which was devised and developed by Australians exclusively for Australia.

The National Chairman and (unpaid) Chief Executive Officer of the League is Philip Benwell MBE who is the author of In Defence of Australia's Constitutional Monarchy, (ISBN 0-7734-6696-7) which was published by Mellen Press in 2003. Benwell, an ardent champion of the Prince of Wales, is also the author of numerous Papers, several of which deal with what he terms as the dangers to the British Crown by the European Union. He is a popular speaker at gatherings both in Australia and internationally and has spoken on several occasions to meetings in the House of Lords. Benwell has been the subject of a vicious attack in the Australian media but continues to receive the support and endorsement of the League’s membership.

The Australian Monarchist League has an impressive number of Patrons, the first of which was the late Dame Pattie Menzies GBE, wife of former Australian Prime Minister and international statesman, Sir Robert Menzies.

Contact information is as follows:

The Australian Monarchist League P O Box 1068, Double Bay 1360 Email: secretary@monarchist.org.au Message/Fax line: 02 9328 6274

© Australian Monarchist League


See also

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