Queen is titular head of state
I feel compelled to comment on some of the interesting points raised by Bruce Hyland (Peninsula News, April 16) on the issue of Australian Head of State.
During the last decade of the 19th century, our present system of governance was compiled by our founding fathers (Sir Henry Parkes, Samuel Griffiths and many others) and then put to the people of the then six colonial governments for perusal and discussion and eventual ratification for inclusion into the formation of our present constitution.
Knowing that sometime in the future some sections of this constitution would be challenged or become out of date, section 128 was added in the conclusion for people (and the people only, not politicians as in most other countries) to make amendments as was agreed by the majority of the electorate in referenda.
So since federation in 1901, eight such amendments have been achieved.
So this is a system of governance that has worked and worked well.
Other suggested amendments have failed, as the people saw that they represented more power to politicians as in the case of the republic referendum in 1999.
The expression "head of state" does not appear in our constitution.
Now that this term has become common usage, we can say yes, the current monarch is in a sense our head of state, but only has the authority to appoint or dismiss our governor general, but then only on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister.
Therefore, the queen is our titular or nominal head of state, the active head of state is the governor general, who is Australian.
In the queen's incorporation speech on 2 June 1953, her majesty stated: "I have, in sincerity, pledged myself to your service, as so many are pledged to mine."
As monarch of the United Kingdom, sovereign of 15 other constitutional monarchies in the Commonwealth of nations and head of 38 other member states, the queen has fulfilled her commitment to her coronation vows us to in spades.
Her majesty has in fact made 16 visits to Australia during her 60-year reign and now, at the age of 86, will probably slow down a bit and send the next in line of succession (Prince Charles and also Prince William) in her stead.
There will be no kowtowing or forelock tugging by Australians in this proudly independent sovereign nation of ours.
Those antics belong to the Middle Ages.
Letter, 26 Apr 2012
Don Parkes, Woy Woy