The UK media reveals that our Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II, has the power to intervene in draft bills before they are tabled in the UK Parliament. This is known as “Queen’s Consent”. She is able to suggest drafting changes to bills affecting Crown property or any other matters that possibly affect her. The same powers are held by the Prince of Wales. A couple of days later, it was revealed in The UK Guardian that the Queen has declined giving her consent to over 1,000 bills including one in 1973 ensuring that her private wealth was not disclosed. This also applies to laws due to be tabled in the Canadian Parliament. Her Australian representative, the Governor-General, can withhold royal assent and refer laws approved by the Australian Parliament to the Queen if she or he wishes. The Queen has the power to disallow Australian laws within one year under s.59 of our Constitution (has not been used to date) but this section has not been repealed. s.58 allows the Governor-General to reserve a law “for the Queen’s pleasure” that cannot become law unless it receives assent from the Queen within two years.
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
