.HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH, QUEEN OF AUSTRALIA

OUR CONSTITUTION PROTECTS OUR FREEDOM

For over a century, our Australian Constitution has worked unobtrusively in the background ensuring that our young nation remains democratic and free. It is a hundred years younger than the American Constitution, and far less cumbersome and politically invasive. In its more than a century of existence as a nation, Australia has had no civil unrest and no constitutional crisis and has an unparalleled record of political and economic stability which have ensured the development of our new nation into the magnificent country it is today. We are recognised as the seventh oldest continuous democracy and are often listed within the top five developed nations of the World.

 THE CROWN PROTECTS OUR CONSTITUTION

Our Founding Australian Fathers also ensured that the power and authority of the nation would be vested in The Crown but they made The Crown subject to the will of the people by ensuring that the Constitution could only be changed by the people and not by politicians themselves, as is the situation in the United Kingdom.

NO POLITICS PLEASE!

In all republics the prime ministers and presidents, or heads of state, are political appointees, beholden to politicians, but under our system of constitutional monarchy the monarch, presently The Queen, occupies an hereditary position and the Governor-General, although recommended by the prime minister, is appointed by the Monarch which means that these positions are totally above politics and impervious to political influence.

 FURTHER

The Governor-General, following appointment, carries on the business of an effective Head of State without any reference whatsoever to The Queen. The Governor-General is also, under the terms of the Constitution, the Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Forces.

WE HAVE AN AUSTRALIAN HEAD OF STATE RIGHT NOW!

Republicans proclaim that the people want a republic, but they certainly didn’t in the last referendum. and today there are no street or other protests calling for change. In fact many polls show a continuing rise in support for our Constitutional Monarchy.

Some say that not having an Australian Head of State is embarrassing for politicians and diplomats overseas. Notwithstanding the fact that the Governor-General is Australian and is our effective head of State and Commander in Chief, do foreign leaders actually care? Our system is different from most others. We have a Head of Government in the Prime Minister who exercises administrative control and a Governor-General who is more like a benevolent Trustee, well above politics.

His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC
Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

 A NEW FLAG FOR A NEW COUNTRY

Following a competition on a new flag for our new country in 1901 our current Australian flag was chosen. So many brave Australians have tragically died under it in two World and lesser Wars. It is beloved by the Australian people, but if we were ever to become a republic and lose our Constitution, we will also certainly lose our magnificent flag.

Becoming a republic will not increase overseas trade or Australia’s prestige, but removing the apolitical checks and balances could well affect our democracy and our freedoms.

WHERE’S THE LOGIC IN BECOMING A REPUBLIC?

There are absolutely no rational grounds for becoming a republic, but there are many logical and sound reasons for remaining as we are, not the least of which is our proven system of stable and secure government under our Australian Constitutional Monarchy.