Professor Margaret Gardner, Vice-Chancellor of Monash University, is appointed by the Victorian Government as the State’s next Governor. Gardner is a republican and declared herself so in the media at the time of the announcement. She claims this is acceptable because the role of Governor has become more ceremonial and not subject to direction by the monarch (interesting, if this were tested given each State’s direct constitutional links to the UK). It’s puzzling why members of the establishment who are openly proclaimed republicans aspire to these jobs? Surely it would be more acceptable for them to decline the offers even if flattered to receive them. Even more interesting was the fact that the Victorian Premier did not bring this to the attention of our King when recommending Gardner’s appointment (see more on this below). Gardner is the latest in an increasingly long line of known republicans accepting vice-regal appointments following Richard Butler (Tasmania); Kim Beazley (WA) and Quentin Bryce (Qld and Governor-General 2008-2014). WfaAR doesn’t know of anyone who has declined such an appointment on the basis on their republicanism – perhaps, it’s getting much harder for State Premiers to find suitable non-republicans for the role of Governor? WfaAR also notes that one of ARM’s co-chairs, himself an AM, praised Gardner’s appointment when there is a more pro-republic angle on such appointments rather than shutting down the argument. [“Republican Margaret Gardner to be king’s representative in Victoria as governor” by Benita Kolovos, The Guardian online, 5 June 2023]
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
