Off with an English head of state

Article by Allison Henry
The Australian
23 March 2005

THE recent visit to Australia by the Prince of Wales did little to bolster the family business Down Under and the ongoing saga of his forthcoming wedding also has not helped to recapture the lost mystique of the British monarchy in Australia.

Contrary to initial advice from Prince Charles's representatives at Clarence House, the latest reports from the British Government indicate that Camilla Parker Bowles will become Queen Camilla after all. Although confusion reigns about the probable effect on Commonwealth countries - such as Australia - that retain the British monarch as head of state, one thing is sure: the prospect of a future King Charles and Queen Camilla has reminded Australians about the unfinished business of our republic.

The Australian Republican Movement has experienced a surge of new members and supporters in recent weeks, while opinion polls taken since the wedding announcement have shown support for a home-grown head of state on the rise. The Morgan poll last month demonstrated 51 per cent support for an Australian republic, rising to 61 per cent if Charles were king. This was followed by a Galaxy poll showing support for a republic rising from 53 per cent to 57 per cent when people considered Charles becoming Australia's next head of state.

These recent developments strengthen the argument for an Australian republic - not because of the character or personal popularity of Charles or Camilla but because they focus the minds of Australians on the fact our next head of state is set to be Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor of London, England, whether we like it or not. And if you believe those latest reports out of London, right by his side will be Queen Camilla.

As the couple weave their way through constitutional complexities in Britain, Australians are realising that decisions about our future head of state are not in our hands, the citizens of a modern, democratic and diverse nation. Rather, these decisions are being implemented on the other side of the world, in accordance with arcane and discriminatory laws, with no input from Australian citizens or even our elected representatives.

Put simply, the prospect of King Charles and Queen Camilla being foisted on us without consultation reminds us of the constitutional fact that Australians have no say whatsoever in who is our head of state. In 2005, that just doesn't sit right with most Australians. Polls have consistently demonstrated that most Australians want one of our own at the top of our constitutional system and they want some say in determining who that person may be. Some argue that we should "wait until the Queen goes" before we move towards a republic. But stalling is only going to set us up for constitutional challenges down the track. We shouldn't wait for developments on the other side of the world to determine our constitutional destiny; we've already endured a century of that practice. Instead, we should begin the journey towards an Australian head of state now, so that the position at the apex of our constitutional system is an Australian, determined entirely by Australians.

Allison Henry is the National Director of the Australian Republican Movement