I've had enough of the Queen in our parliament

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I've had enough of the Queen in our parliament

1 yr ago

Watched the opening of the new federal parliament the other day (yes, I’m a nerd) and the one jarring note – apart from Scott Morrison’s obvious absence, where are you Scotty? – is the acknowledgment to the Queen.

Haven’t we grown up enough as a country to get over this? Don’t get me wrong, I quite like the queen, but the idea that Great Britain is somehow our overlord, especially when it’s mentioned when opening parliament, is just plain silly and internationally embarrassing.

I can’t imagine Britain doing the same thing for any other country. Didn’t it leave the European Union to get away from that sort of thing?

Time for a complete overhaul.

9 comments

Pacahawi

1 yr ago

I suggest you read up on the subject first, so you can make an informed decision on what is actually involved.

Try living in a republic and then compare it with Australia!

https://www.monarchist.org.au/

Froggie

1 yr ago

You can't just generalize and suggest the republic = bad, monarch = good. There are many, many successful, peaceful republics in the world. Many.

Horace Cope

1 yr ago

Queen Elizabeth II is our Head of State and whether you like it or not, JanYLC, it is protocol to acknowledge her status in our parliament. If you don't like it you have a couple of choices, vote for a republic and hope enough people share your views or move to another country that doesn't have the Queen as their Head of State. Your snipe at our last PM is a puerile attempt at a misplaced smear considering the legitimate reason that he is representing Australia at a conference to which he was invited as a past PM.

Froggie

1 yr ago

Our politicians need to pledge allegiance to the people of Australia - not the Queen and her heirs and successors.

And, yes, I like the Queen too. But I believe the monarch should not be our head of state.

Sue Ridge

1 yr ago

There are some who agree with you, Froggie, but while the Queen is our head of state then she should be afforded recognition. Above all it's just good manners.

Froggie

1 yr ago

While she is the head of state, she HAS TO BE afforded recognition. It's not because of manners.

I understand that. What I meant is that things need to change, so that doesn't have to occur.

Sophie

1 yr ago

Australia is a constitutional monarchy and our head of state is the Queen. However, the Queen does not have a role in the day-to-day running of Australia. On the advice of our Prime Minister, the Queen appoints the Governor-General, who is the Queen’s representative in Australia.

The Australian Constitution delegates – gives – certain powers to the Governor-General to act on behalf of the Queen. These include giving Royal Assent to laws passed by the Australian Parliament and starting the process for a federal election.

While these powers are exercised by the Governor-General, in reality this is normally done on the advice of the Prime Minister and ministers.

So you see…mentioning the Queen is highly relevant until such time Australia becomes a Republic and I am hoping it will not be in my lifetime!

ronjohn

1 yr ago

Time to get rid of the senile old bag with a handbag

Tom Tank

1 yr ago

Sophie you should catch up with what really happened when the legitimate government of Australia was dismissed by the Governor-General.

The G-G was in constant touch with the Queen's advisers and they did bring influence to bear. He communicated with her advisers so she could truthfully say that she was never in touch with the G-G.

There are Republics and there are Republics and the U.S.A is the prime example of what we don't want Australia to become.

Suze

1 yr ago

Yes Tom

As Whitlam said in 1975

'God Save the Queen', because nothing will save the Governor-General.”

KSS

1 yr ago

JanYLC, if you have so little regard for Mr Morrison, why does it bother you so much that he was not at the opening of parliament?

ronjohn

1 yr ago

Because he was paid to be there

RnR

1 yr ago

Original poster : Haven’t we grown up enough as a country to get over this? Don’t get me wrong, I quite like the queen, but the idea that Great Britain is somehow our overlord, especially when it’s mentioned when opening parliament, is just plain silly and internationally embarrassing

As we are not yet a republic ... suggest you get over it too.

Suze

1 yr ago

Albanese has openly shown his support for transitioning to a republican model.

Lucca

1 yr ago

I'm with JanYLC, get rid of the Queen, have an Aboriginal elder as head of state. Great opening the other day and smoking ceremony

The Welcome to Country was attended by nine Indigenous MPs and senators.

Credit SMH

Tood

1 yr ago

Sorry, but I'm sick and tired of this farcical "welcome to country" crap being flogged to death!

Viking

1 yr ago

Lets see a cost/benefit analysis of changing our constitutional arrangements including the total cost of a referendum, cost of changing all signage, letterheads, legislation, presidential salary and expenses, building and maintaing a palace etc. then let's decide. In the meantime we should continue with current traditions which cost us nothing.

Daisy

1 yr ago

It is embarrassing to keep bowing to the British queen. Bring on the republic!

Viking

1 yr ago

Personally I couldn't care less either way if there are benefits worth the cost. There are numerous republics I'd be more than embarrassed to represent, many of them I'd be fearful for my life.

The last efforts we all witnessed at designing a new flag to correspond with the last republic referendum were embarrassing and cringe worthy enough, I hate to think of the hash the government would make over designing a republic. It's taken them over 50 years of deliberations not to have a second Sydney airport and a decade not to have a functioning energy policy.

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I've had enough of the Queen in our parliament

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