While Australian barrister and author, Geoffrey Robertson, labels the royal wedding ‘a manifesto* for British republicans’ in The Independent, it is nothing short of a wake-up call for Australian republicans as the British monarchy seeks to ensure its line of succession from Charles and William as future Kings of Australia, well into the 22nd century. This sexist, racist, hereditary arrangement, locked into our Constitution but completely out of step with our strong sense of equality free of class and the belief that we can govern ourselves free of our colonisers, is well past its Australian use-by date.
* a new written constitution providing for an elected President (5 or 7 year terms) to represent the nation, provide wise counsel to the Government, inspire the people, open and, if necessary, close parliament; would include a small role for the Windsors that retains the trappings of the monarchy for tourism and public interest purposes.
