The Queen. Photo © Reuters
It’s time for Australia to move out of the granny flat – we may claim legal independence but our home is still squarely in our parent’s back yard. Waiting for the death of Elizabeth II (‘end of he reign’) is a waste of time, and I believe insulting. She’s seen a lot in her 59 year reign, including the amazing changes that Australia itself has gone through since WW2 – let’s dub it puberty. I’d think it more fitting to know that in her long life she could see Australia blossom into its next state of maturity, before the neighbours realise we’ve been living at home a little too long.
Notwithstanding the Australia Acts of 1986 and others, I wanted to share the following excerpt, taken from the speech by Prince George at the opening of the Australian Parliament on 9 May 1901:
‘His Majesty feels assured that that the enjoyment of these powers will, if possible, enhance that loyalty and devotion to his throne and empire of which the people of Australia have already given such signal proofs.’
I don’t doubt that ‘signal proofs’ is a reference to the Australian troops committed to the South African war at the time. I also point to the fact that the Australian Constitution was seen by the Monarch as a way to consolidate empire. That is, keep us on the leash and the wool en route to England.
The Constitution enacted more than a century ago has changed very little, and certainly not as far as removing explicit powers of the Monarchy (particularly s59 – proving that the Queen ‘may disallow any law within one year from the Governor-General’s assent’) or removing the 50-some references to the Monarchy in our cornerstone legal document. If anything it should be a risk management matter for our Government; I doubt England saw what was coming in Charles I and the ensuing English Civil War. Who knows what is on the minds of Britons with their economy up the proverbial creek? It does not suit Australia’s place in our booming Asian locale to be displaying a relic of colonialism on our flag.
Australia's Constitutional Future. Photo © Zazzle.com
If you feel the same way on the republican issue, I’d commend the Australian Republic Movement – check out www.republic.org.au for updates and information on the single-policy advocacy group.
In any case, I look forward to the traffic that’s coming to Canberra to see the Queen of Australia. It feels such an alien title to write, let alone accept.