Anne Twomey confirms that the Queen has also interfered in the drafting of laws intended to be put to the parliaments of Australia and New Zealand. In the Australian example, it involved the Australia Act 1986 no less and concerned the Queen having to take and act on the advice of State Premiers. This provision was not removed after all State Governments (that have their own Constitutions) insisted on it. This is shocking and all Australian republicans should be very concerned by it – and the myth that the Queen does not interfere in our government and our laws, only acts on advice of her Ministers etc. As Anne Twomey points out, not only is there much that goes on unknown and unnoticed behind the scenes and our politicians are complicit in it but it is very difficult to find out about it. The links between the Governor-General and the Queen through her Private Secretary revealed in the Palace Letters – and the Palace’s repeated attempts over years to keep these under wraps – is another good example. It should be noted, however, these links are vastly reduced thesedays, for example: the fortnightly report to the Queen from the G-G ceased during Quentin Bryce’s tenure. Anne Twomey’s article is an illuminating read, included on the link below. [“The Queen’s Gambit – new evidence shows how Her Majesty wields influence on legislation” by Anne Twomey, The Conversation online, 9 February 2021]
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
