How much do we really know about the British Royals?
Not much it seems despite their regular appearances in the women's magazines, the tabloids and, increasingly, on our screens.The controversy over the accuracy of The Crown continues but it also flushes out the circles of reverential royal experts and biographers who surround the family - often complicit in keeping secrets and non-disclosure. The stakes and prestige on offer are high. The British royals are the Australian Royal Family too and will furnish our Head of State in perpetuity unless we take action to change that fact. Read an informative article by Giselle Bastin, Associate Professor of English at Flinders University on the link below. ["The hidden agenda of royals experts circling The Crown Season 4" by Giselle Bastin, The Conversation online 10 December 2020]
Republican Fist in a Respectful Velvet Glove
British media observer, Phil Harrison discusses the controversy over "The Crown" - how much of it is fiction? how much is intended to be fiction? - at the start of an intense six months scrutiny of the British Royal Family as the Harry and Meghan departure roiled in the background - and before it intensified in early 2021). This essay provides an overview of the monarchy's changing role in and relationship with the media since the 1950s and the gradual weakening of the reverence with which the family was viewed, now all but gone. Read the article below. ["The Crown has slipped: how the Netflix epic captures our relationship with the royals" by Phil Harrison, The Guardian online, 2 December 2020]
UK Honours Rejection Doubles
In the UK, the number of people refusing state honours has doubled in the last nine years. There are compelling reasons to do so among certain awardees: for instance those who feel compromised and decline honours with reference to "empire" or who feel they are bestowed in return for "favours" thus devaluing the whole exercise. Figures on refusals are kept closely guarded in Australia but awardees can decline an honour before it is publicly announced as in Britain but our honours no longer refer to "empire" - they have Australian titles but are a clone of the British chivalric system of rank where some awards are more prestigious than others and the system is approved by our Head of State in London not by the Australian Government. ["Number of people rejecting Queen's honours doubles in past decade" by Mattha Busby, The Guardian online, 2 December 2020]
More Women Elected to ARM National Council
ARM announces the results of its two-yearly National Council elections open to all members. This time there has been a significant increase in the number of successful women candidates: 6 out of 10 elected (of 37 candidates in total) being: Jenny Hocking, Julia Banks, Michelle Wood, Alice Crawford, Leanne Smith and Meredith Doig. Added to the Youth Convenor, Anna Walker (elected from three candidates), plus a number of women filling the role of State and Territory Convenors, who are automatically members of the Council, this is a good result and the first time the majority of those elected are female. ARM made a special effort to encourage women members to nominate for National Council, also a first.
Anthem Restored after PM Intervention
A decision by the NRL to scrap the national anthem at the first State of Origin match, an issue of contention with Indigenous players at least, was overturned after the Prime Minister intervened and sought its restoration, apparently to foster "strong national unity". This leaves no doubt where the Government - and the PM personally - stands on these matters and, in fact, displays a tin ear on the subject of national unity unless it is the Coalition's way of enforcing it. See also News Item of 6 February 2020.
Golden Wattle on New Banknote
The national floral emblem, the Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), finally appears on the new $100 note. This famous flowering tree should have been on the $5 note, the first one redesigned and reissued some years ago, along with our Head of State and new Parliament House but has been kept until last. Wattle Day Assocation president, Dr Suzette Searle said: "It is so important to have the Golden Wattle featured because it is the national floral emblem" while another member added: "It's what represents you as an Australian". ["Golden Wattle finally fits the bill, the national floral emblem featuring on an Australian banknote for the first time" by Megan Doherty, The Canberra Times online, 30 October 2020]
Second New Caledonia Independence Referendum
In the neighbourhood, New Calendonia stages its second referendum on independence from France. The result was 46.7 percent in favour compared with 43.3 percent YES in the first referendum in 2018, an increase of 3.4 percent. Turnout was 85.7 percent. The third and final referendum is to be held before 2024.
Vale Susan Ryan AO
We lose another woman republican of note. Hawke Government Minister Susan Ryan was a dedicated supporter of the republican cause from the beginning of the 1990s and a prominent public spokesperson for the change during and after the referendum. She took a minimalist approach, supporting only an Australian Head of State appointed by Parliament. She was appointed to the Republican Advisory Committee in 1993 by Prime Minister Keating; also a Life Member of the ARM and Deputy Chair of its National Council 2000-2003.
Vale Dorothy Collings
Stalwart ACT ARM member Dorothy Collings dies at 98. Dorothy was one of the republican movements unsung heroines: always attending meetings, always helping behind the scenes, donating prizes for raffles and events and strongly supporting other female republicans. She was regular at republican events in Canberra bringing along her friends even after she moved into residential accommodation. She will be sorely missed and is remembered with great affection by her Canberra republican friends.
Barbados Aims to become Republic
Commowealth realm with the Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State, Barbados in The Caribbean, announces that it intends to become a republic by 30 November 2021, 55th anniversary of its independence. This would be achieved by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament. No referendum is proposed. The attached article from The Guardian covers the history of republicanism in Barbados - has been bubbling away for 40 years - and the leadership instincts of current Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley. The last Caribbean country to hold a referendum to become a republic was Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2009 but that failed. The last Caribbean nation to become a republic was Domenica in 1978. ["Long live Barbados as a republic, soon to be free of tarnished 'global Britain'" by Guy Hewitt, The Guardian online, 22 September 2020]
Colonial Flag over the Champs Elysees
An Australian rider takes third place in the Tour de France, a notable achievement in itself. At the awards ceremony, before an international television audience of millions, the dominant Union Jack on our rather old-fashioned royal blue flag stands out as it flutters above the Champs Elysees. This is in sharp contrast to the two flags of Slovenia, home country of the first and second placed competitors. The Republic of Slovenia, a relatively new country, became independent when Yugoslavia was dissolved in 1991 and has its own distinctive flag bearing no sign of its origins.
A Date Worth Considering?
Active Canberra republic supporter, Christine Butterfield, takes on the dispute over the date of our national day celebration in The Canberra Times. She plumps for Wattle Day on 1 September while lamenting there's no Republic Day yet. Read her letter on the link below
Download: Letter to The Canberra Times [51KB, pdf]
Final Gasp for Palace Letters
The noise generated by the Palace Letters had largely died down by the end of July but it made a brief reappearance in a piece by Good Weekend journalist Amelia Lester who discusses the taxing task of explaining to Americans why "a very nice lady in natty pastels is in charge of our country". Already befuddled by koala bears, Vegemite and compulsory voting, this is beyond them. She astutely asserts: "There's a reason no one outside Australia uses the term Head of State as much as we do. It's to justify something that makes no sense" and finishes by concluding: "at least when we are a republic, we can say these are our mistakes to own, and to fix". ["Our confusing 'head of state' arrangements: time for a royal flush" by Amelia Lester, Sydney Morning Herald online, 31 July 2020] To read the article, click on the link below
Republic Cause Not Helped by Palace Letters
The flurry of attention to the Palace Letters continues. In its aftermath, this thoughtful piece below about what the reveal might mean for the republic looks at the campaign in the cold light of day. WfaAR agrees. What happened 45 years ago between a tightly knit group of people both in Yarralumla and Buckingham Palace - even with primary sources now to hand - is too arcane to resonate with todays campaign and how most voters will react to any proposal for a Republic in the 2020s. In fact, Crispin Hull argues the letters could be used to support the case against a republic particularly among Coalition supporters. He also makes some good suggestions for how to depoliticise the role of Head of State and how a new republic might operate in practice under a new, streamlined Constitution - click on link for full article. ["Republic cause isn't helped by reveal of Palace Letters" by Crispin Hull, The Canberra Times online, 18 July 2020]
Palace Letters, Republic and Real Politik
Michelle Grattan offers her commentary about the Palace Letters, their likely impact on the current state of the Republic debate; the cold facts of current political positioning and posturing on constitutional change and the importance of dealing with Indigenous Recognition - a higher priority than the Republic she says; we agree. This is an insightful synthesis of where all these issues stand (WfaAR would say "in the much too hard basket") and the likelihood of important governance reform in the near to medium term future. It can be found on the link. ["Palace Letters make great reading but leave a republic as far away as ever" by Michelle Grattan, The Conversation online, 16 July 2020]
Conspiracy Theories Ended by Palace Letters
Constitutional expert Professor Anne Twomey is quick off the mark with her take on the critical elements of the Palace Letters. She says that the primary sources end the conspiracy theories abroad since 1975 by establishing that our Head of State in London was not involved in the decision made by the Governor-General to dismiss Prime Minister Whitlam and commission the Opposition to form a new government. Click on the link to read her commentary on the Palace Letters. ["'Palace letters' show the Queen did not advise, or encourage, Kerr to sack Whitlam Government" by Anne Twomey, The Conversation online, 14 July 2020]
The Reveal and the Republic
The official release of the Palace Letters brings an abundance of analyses on the implications for the country and for the Republic. This striking historical perspective suggests their reveal should bring our links to the British to an end and elaborates the extraordinary endurance of the British Crown since 1788 that eventually survived the bombshell of the 1975 dismissal, its long outfall and the republic referendum in 1999. The closing of that chapter of our history should usher in a Republic - not just any republic but a "a meaningful republic" - to read click on link below. ["The Queen's Cur: On Kerr, the Palace Letters and the Crown's Silence" by Russell Marks, The Monthly blog online, 15 July 2020]
Release of the Palace Letters
With much fanfare and a press conference, the National Archives releases the letters between Governor-General John Kerr and the Palace between 1974 and 1977. There is no smoking gun. The primary sources make clear that the decision to remove the Prime Minister and call an election was taken by Kerr although the Palace was kept informed and its counsel sought at a more personal level. There is no evidence our Head of State knew what was being considered, directed the removal or was complicit in it. All the participants were already known from Kerr's memoirs "Matters for Judgment" published in 1978 including the Queen's private secretary, Sir Martin Charteris, with whom he was regularly corresponding. All 211 letters (one is missing) can be viewed on the NAA website where they are to referred as the "Kerr Palace Letters". The 11 November 1975 letter reporting the days events to the Palace, a masterpiece of official drafting, is well worth a read. It is also on display in the NAA exhibition galleries on the ground floor.
An Australian Republic, Ritual and Symbolism
Megan Davis starts her discussion about the empty symbolism of Acknowledgements of Country spoken by non-Indigenous Australians with reference to the Republic. She writes: "There is an uncritical but flawed assumption that Aboriginal people are unquestionably Australian republicans. Professor Marcia Langton, responding to republican ridicule of the pomp and circumstance of the British royal family, pointed out that many Aboriginal people in fact have deep respect for the ceremony of the Crown, because our culture understands the power of ritual and symbolism. Such customary protocols speak to the conservatism of culture - it is slow to change - but provide continuity between the past and the present." Although WfaAR was aware of this while campaigning for the 1999 referendum and since, this is timely reminder for the Australian republican movement that it cannot take the support of Indigenous people for the Republic as a given. ["The Promise of an Australian Homecoming" by Megan Davis, The Monthly July 2020 edition, p8-11)
The Voice of the People
Commenting on the federal Government's slowness to provide funding for the arts industry crippled by the pandemic with thousands of job losses, Chris Endrey comments, "The sad conclusion is one that lies at the end of too many questions - Australia is either not interested in nor capable of valuing its own voice, its own cultures". How deeply it resonates to see the word "voice" used to express this idea: the Voice of our Indigenous nations and cultures at the heart of the Uluru Statement - now more than three years since announcement - or, indeed, the voice of the people expressed in a self-created, self-governing Republic. See also News Item of 11 May 2020. ["Our fight for legitimacy carries on" by Chris Endrey, The Canberra Times print and online, 27 June 2020]
In the Left Corner
If we didn't exactly realise this or when it happened, historian Judith Brett neatly captures the political shift in Australia since the mid 1990s to create the binary political world manoeuvred by Prime Minister John Howard. She says that our Republic was characterised as an issue of Labor and the Greens, along with "affirmative action for women, multiculturism, racial inclusiveness, native title, Indigenous self-determination, Reconciliation along with acknowledging violence and injustice towards our First Peoples, increased environmental regulation and a commitment to internationalism." So that neatly incapsulates it. Australian republicanism was lumped in with other so-called soft, non-essential, progressive causes and there we have stayed. Also clear is that the 1999 referendum was a practice run for what was to follow - and it worked a treat. ["The Coal Curse" by Judith Brett, Quarterly Essay Issue 78, June 2020, p52]
Weariness Over Queen's Birthday Holiday & the Honours
Another tired old Queen's Birthday holiday, a relic of the predominantly white Dominions and maybe a tired Queen at 94 years and 2 months, her real birthday being on 21 April. And with it comes that tired old warhorse, the Queen's Birthday honours, all 933 of them. Not much to rejoice about even if 41 percent of the 710 awards made in the civilian division went to women this year (and off those only 28 percent of the gongs in the top two tiers went to women). As we have said before there are far too many Australian honours awarded. Once a year for Australia Day is more than enough. More important is the fact that this so-called Australian honours system has a structure approved by the Queen of England herself.
Here's a good explainer written by Cai Holroyd: "Being appointed to the Order of Australia is really more of an honorary commendation for civilians, however, it is nonetheless structured as a more traditional order of chivalry. The reigning monarch (our Head of State ed) is the head and the Governor-General acts as chancellor. Australian are recognised twice a year to join the Order, on Australia Day and the day set aside in June to celebrate the Queen's birthday.
Below the officials and any royal members, the order is separated into civilian and military divisions, with three ranks and one medal.
In order of ascending rank, the recipients are appointed the rank of a member or an officer or a companion of the order. Below these, anyone can receive a medal of the Order but this does not include them in the ranks."
Clearly, it is hierarchical. By far the most awards, including the ones recognising community work, are the medals at the bottom and apart from the more deserving whose awardees are to be found in ranks. Most of the latter hail from "the establishment" and the upper middle class and are honoured for doing their paid jobs. In an egalitarian country like Australia, there should be one level of awards that recognises all recipients equally.
Read all of Cai's article on the link. ["Why do we appoint people to the Order of Australia" by Cai Holroyd, The Canberra Times, print and online, 7 June 2020]
High Court Decision in Palace Letters Case
The High Court decides 6-1 in favour of Professor Jenny Hocking's bid to have 211 personal letters between our Head of State and Governor-General John Kerr released. The Court decided that the photocopies of the correspondence were Commonwealth property and, therefore, subject to the National Archives Act 1986. The originals and the official copies are still locked up in the Royal Archives at Windsor. where Australians can't access them. This is an important decision - not just in Australia - and chips away more of the power and secrecy of the British monarch over our affairs. WfaAR has followed the "Palace Letters" case through three court cases and crowd-funding for legal costs that started in 2010. For more information see our News Items of 18 January and 5 February 2020. Republican and historian Jenny Hocking is also currently a member of ARM's National Council. A week after the decision, the NAA informed Jenny that she would have to wait another 90 days for release procedures to be completed including decisions on exemptions. On 18 June, she gave a videocast to ARM members talking about what she expected to find in the letters. So we wait and see. Professor Anne Twomey from Sydney University discusses the complicated in's and out's of the case and the implications of the decision on the link below ["High Court ruling on 'Palace letters' case paves way to learn more about The Dismissal - and our Constitution" by Anne Twomey, The Conversation online 29 May 2020]
Indigenous Recognition Referendum Scuttled
Right in Reconciliation Week comes confirmation - by way of tweets from the MInister for Indigenous Australians - that the Indigenous Recognition vote was not going to take place before 2022 and had been shunted to the next term of the federal parliament. This matter has been going steadily backwards since it formed the first major announcement of the new Morrison Government last year. By October 2019, it had become a "limited' constitutional referendum sure 'to break some hearts" so things weren't looking promising. In January 2020 just before Australia Day, the Minister had reportedly set a timeline but that was quickly followed by a Coalition party room revolt (see News of 12 February 2020). There were Committees coming up with multiple models for how it would work at federal, State and local government level (a sure recipe for disaster); controversy over statements made by appointed members and sackings and, finally, the pandemic was blamed. More recently, rumours are circulating that female Indigenous leaders want to push ahead with truth telling (Makarrata) before there's a vote. So this announcement came as no surprise even if the timing was. It duly passed into the ether pretty well unnoticed. Michelle Grattan puts it all in context on the link below. ["Pandemic kills Indigenous referendum" by Michelle Grattan, The Conversation online, 4 June 2020]
In the Time of the Coronavirus
The Greens release a new policy that piqued WfaAR's interest: Let's Recreate Australia. Not a surprising theme in the time of a pandemic which often brings about serious rethinking of history and the future at both personal and societal levels. But it wasn't about the Constitution and our governance. Instead it had an admirable short-term focus to get artists back to work and our own stories back on our screens. As Sarah Hanson-Young (Senator for South Australia) comments: "If we are going to restore our social fabric, we need to bring people back together through the arts". WfaAR agrees. It is essential to have the insights and commentary of our artists consistently applied to the state of our government, our country and its future.
COVID-19 Shutdown Silences Constitutional Issues
As the country began to slowdown and shutdown with strict pandemic prevention measures in place nationally, it is clear that public health and immediate economic issues would be the focus for at least the next 6 months. Non-survival topics like Indigenous Recognition and the Republic dropped instantly from public discourse and the media (see also News Item of 6 June 2020). The only vague reminder about the Republic was the publication of Malcolm Turnbull's "A Bigger Picture" in mid April but that aspect of the book gained no attention. The time of major threat from the pandemic was barren territory for constitutional matters as if they didn't exist or belonged to a long-forgotten past.
WfaAR Meets with ARM to Talk Direct Election
National Convenor, Sarah Brasch, meets with ARM Executive Director, Sandy Biar, in Sydney. The main topic for discussion was Direct Election. A useful exchange of views and mull over the details with general agreement about how we could directly elect a Head of State - other than ARM still not giving any thought to how any campaign for the Republic should or might be affected by Indigenous Recognition. It is encouraging to see ARM shifting its stance to encompass all possibilities for the eventual Republic campaign.
No Referendum on Indigenous Recognition
The Australian today reports that Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt has walked back from a commitment by the Morrison Government to hold a referendum on Indigenous recognition in this term after a backlash in the Coalition party room over the vote. Mentioned were Senators Dean Smith (WA), James McGrath and Amanda Stoker (both Qld) who were claimed to have stated that there has been no consultation with MPs over the timeline and no model to take to the electorate. Wyatt described the timeframe as "aspirational" while conceding that he had to work closely with party members and the party room in Canberra to determine what was possible. WfaAR comment: if not to take place by 2022, the rocky road of Indigenous Recognition as well as that of the Republic, just got rockier.
Another Commonwealth Scandal
And still we identify with this organisation! The Commonwealth Secretariat in London is now the subject of a major financial and impropriety scandal. Australia is its third largest donor. To read further information, click on link below. Meanwhile, a reported divorce involving one of our Head of State's grandchildren and two of her great-grandchildren can hardly be considered a scandal in todays terms.
No Anthem at Indigenous Rugby League Match
The Australian Rugby League Commission has dropped playing of the national anthem at its annual All Stars match. The chair said today, "We have listened to our players' concerns that the words of the anthem do not represent them or their families and does not include an acknowledgement of First Nations people. We respect their wishes and have agreed that the anthem will not be played at the All Stars match on February 22." WfaAR comment: Something has significantly shifted here after so much consistent nay-saying and in the right direction. Such a public move that directly involves the game's players and supporters is timely and long-overdue. It is a pity that the Government is unwilling to be as accommodating towards another request by our Indigenous peoples to fully implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart, a critically important constitutional change that will be a necessary precursor to any successful vote on the Republic.
High Court Hearing on Palace Letters is Republican Paradise
On 4 and 5 February, the High Court has heard submissions from opposing sides in Professor Jenny Hocking's appeal to have the personal correspondence of GG John Kerr with our Head of State between 1974 and 1977 declared Commonwealth records. To do so, would allow the documents to be considered by the National Archives of Australia (where copies are held) for release. For one and a half whole days, the Court heard discussion about the roles of the Queen and Governor-General and how power is exercised between the two offices. This got a thorough airing in relation to Sections 1 and 2 as well as many other sections of the Constitution where the G-G's powers are set out. It was, in short, republican heaven for hardy campaigners and so timely that this matter and the secrecy of the House of Windsor were given such a comprehensive airing in the highest court in the land. The full-bench of seven justices took a lively interest in proceedings as did the packed gallery in the High Court in Canberra. Both barristers - one an SC and one a QC - raised numerous issues and examples directly relevant to the arguments for a Republic. WfaAR was present for most of the hearing and could only conclude "republic, republic, republic asap" as the cases were laid out and argued. If nothing else, a new start and a new Constitution would sort out some of the vagaries and muddled mess that we now find ourselves in. Most interesting of all was defence barrister Bret Walker's argument that the British Monarch has a role and is not powerless, it's just a special one exercised only by the monarch as Head of State on the advice of her Australian Ministers. The court has adjourned to consider its decision, not expected until later in the year. WfaAR tweeted key points for republicans. There were plenty of them!
Sleep, Australia, Sleep
Paul Kelly released a new song early February with lyrics that explain how the country is sleep-walking towards inaction on climate change - and one might add long-overdue constitutional and governance change. Set to become a seminal Oz anthem, it is a lullaby as well as a wake-up call, available on Spotify, Facebook and YouTube. It was featured on the 8 February edition of the ABC Arts program,The Mix. ["'A Tipping Point': Paul Kelly's new song attacks climate inaction" by Shona Martin, smh.com.au, 31 January 2020]
Ozexit - and soon!
In the aftermath of another torrid Australia Day, a letter writer to The Canberra Times captures the mood of Brexit day perfectly: "Following Brexit and Megxit, it's time for Ozexit. Aren't we mature enough to select a workable system of government not dependent on the imprimatur of a foreign monarch?" WfaAR couldn't have put it better. [Thank you to contributor, Mark Slater of Melba ACT, Letters to the Editor: The Canberra Times, 27 January 2020]
Forget the Flag of Domination
Wise but also tough words from Sydney author and architecture critic Elizabeth Farrelly who writes regularly for The Sydney Morning Herald. She essentially labels modern Australia as a country unable to listen or heed. She poses the questions for an Australia Day in the middle of an immediate climate crisis as the forested (habited) parts of the country in the south-east are burned to the ground in wild firestorms: "What, at this crossroads, does it mean to be Australian?.....Who are we as a nation, and who do we wish to be going forward?" How pertinent for 20 years after the failed Republic referendum. She even touches on the Republic in her conclusions when she singles out the Union Jack bedecked flag as the symbol of the last 232 years of occupation in the light of European Australians - and those who have come post WWII - stubbornness, even refusal, to change and adapt. The whole article is thought-provoking and well worth a read. Click on link below. Elizabeth Farrelly is a republican. ["Survival-by-respect or death-by-stupid: your choice Straya" by Elizabeth Farrelly, The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 January 2020]
Less Access to Australia's Records held in Windsor Castle
The Australian newspaper reports that "Government House" and the National Archives of Australia made an agreement in 1991, approved by our Head of State Queen Elizabeth II, that provided for the letters of Governors-General Casey, Hasluck, Kerr, Cowen and Stephen to be released after 50 years unless vetoed by either side's officials. The newspaper's request for the vice-regal letters of G-G Richard Casey from 1965-69, eligible for release on 1 May 2019, was refused. The agreement has seemingly been revised and the Palace is henceforth to have sole veto on release over a longer timeframe, ie five years after the Queen dies. This merely adds to lack of transparency over our governance where our Head of State - at its apex - is concerned. See also WfaAR New Updates (16 August 2019 and previous) about Professor Jenny Hocking's lengthy and frustrated attempts to obtain the letters between G-G John Kerr and the Palace over the 1975 sacking of the elected Australian Government. The High Court will hear Hocking's appeal in February 2020. ["Buckingham Palace backtracks on G-G letters deal with National Archives" by Troy Bramston, The Australian online, 18 January 2020]
Let's Give the British Royals the Flick
Meghan and Harry have quit the British Royal family, so should we. It would be a good time to do it as Australia contemplates the future of its Federation in light of the summer's dangerous, destructive and crippling bushfires. The Guardian described the British as having "an infantile fixation "with its royal family and all the trappings. The newpaper forgot to add the three former Dominions still with the British monarch as Head of State having the identical reverence, most particularly Australia.
