Summary: Republican Perspective on the Governor General

John Warhurst
Perspectives, ABC Radio National
7 May 2003

Transcript of this program:

"Its broke. So let's fix it". That statement refers of course to the system
that produces Governors-General not to any one individual.

The main concern of the Australian Republican Movement has always been with the Office of Governor-General rather than any one occupant of the
position. The goal of the ARM is to replace the British monarchy and its
representative in Australia, the Governor-General, with an Australian Head
of State in a new Australian republic.

There is one misconception about republicans that must be corrected
immediately. It is a myth that it is republicans who have been behind the
current controversy surrounding Dr Hollingworth's fitness for the position
of Governor-General. On the contrary, criticism of the Governor-General is
widespread and would appear to be led mainly by those concerned with child
abuse and separation of church and state. Republican opinion merely
reflects a cross-section of the community, though republicans naturally
share a particular interest in the position of Governor-General. Republicans believe in Australian office-holders always performing to the best of their abilities because they represent Australians and their interests. I am personally on the record, at the time of his appointment, saying that it was in the interests of both monarchists and republicans for Dr Hollingworth to perform well in the position and, twelve months ago, I warned against any rush to judgement against him.

Australian republicans are concerned about the system rather than the
individual. We recognise that the system is "broke". It needs to be fixed and we want Australian political leaders to look beyond this individual case and learn the lessons it teaches us about the shortcomings of our system. The situation has demonstrated the inadequacy of a system in which only two people, the Prime Minister and the Queen are empowered to appoint and remove Australia's Governor-General, without any parliamentary debate or public explanation or discussion. The system of appointment involves the Prime Minister making a recommendation to the Queen, who in turn is bound to accept the recommendation. This system is foreign to Australia, closed to wider scrutiny and unaccountable. Furthermore it invites party politics about appointments because they are effectively the gift of the Prime Minister alone, rather than being bipartisan or non partisan. One benefit of the current crisis for republicans is that more Australians will become aware of how our system of appointing Governors-General actually works. Surveys taken at the time of the 1999 republic referendum showed widespread ignorance of the facts. This ignorance needs to be met with public education and the current controversy is providing some.

Such a system is plainly not good enough for a modern, independent and
democratic country such as Australia. The solution to a crisis in our constitutional arrangements should not be subject to the personal and political judgements of the Prime Minister alone. The system for appointing and removing a Governor-General is undemocratic and inadequate. The system is broken and it is time to fix it.

An Australian republic would offer Australians more say in the appointment of their Head of State and would greatly enhance his or her relationship with the Parliament and with the Australian people. A clear majority of Australians are concerned about the developing crisis. They recognise that they need to be replaced by a more open and accountable system in which they and/or their elected representatives are involved.

When Australia is next in a position when it has to select a Governor-General, whether that is in weeks, months or several years time we should do things differently. Even before we become a republic changes can be made in the method of selecting a Governor-General. The process for both appointment and, where necessary, dismissal, should be made more inclusive, and guidelines for evaluating the behaviour of office-bearers should be introduced.

Whatever the outcome of this current crisis now is the time for the failings in the system to be addressed. We must look to the future.

Guests on this program:
John Warhurst
National Chairman
Australian Republican Movement

Producer:
Keri Phillips