The movement launched its new campaign in Hobart yesterday, promoting the idea that the nation should  rediscover its identity by separating  from the British monarchy.

It is a campaign that Ms Giddings agrees with.

``I'm personally a strong supporter of an Australian republic,'' she said.

``I hope that we will see a better way of having this debate and discussion with the Australian people so we can move towards a republic and become one.

``It's wonderful to see the Australian Republican Movement here in Tasmania recognising that we are of equal value to any other state of Australia and have a voice that is also deserving  of being heard.

``I suspect this will be a long campaign, one that's not going to be resolved in the short term, but it's one where a national debate should continue.''

 However, despite her views, she said the state was  looking forward to welcoming Princes Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall next month.

``I have never heard the palace or the Queen ever say a nation was not entitled to have a debate whether to keep the Queen as their head of state or in fact become a republic, so I don't think this will bother her in the least,'' Ms Giddings said.

``I certainly believe we ought to have a head of state who is Australian, who lives in Australia, who is part of our community and who is part of who we are.

``Having a Queen who lives and resides in the United Kingdom, who  is primarily the Queen of the United Kingdom and is only symbolically the Queen of Australia is not what I want to see in a head of state.''

Australians for Constitutional Monarchy executive director Jai Martinkovits   said yesterday that  the Australian  Republican Movement's campaign was ``a desperate attempt at keeping a dead issue alive''.