I SO wish we were a republic, writes Claire Harvey in The Sunday Telegraph . But, since we’re not and we’re not likely to be anytime in the next 100 years, we might as well be honest about the fact we’re a constitutional monarchy and enjoy the pageantry of knights and dames. Bring back the pomp, I say. Ms. Harvey is entitled to her views. There are however two factual matters. Malcolm Fraser did not remove knighthoods. And it is absolutely wrong for two reasons to accuse John Howard of mercilessly garrotting the concept of an Australian republic in 1999 by ensuring the proposed model that went to a referendum was too wishy-washy for most Australian republicans, a president appointed by parliament, ¬rather than directly elected. First the model was chosen and approved by the ARM, the Convention, the ALP and two thirds of MPs and Senators. Dont blame them not on John Howard who didnt want any politicians republic. Second the direct election model is just as unpopular. In a referendum, there would be most of the republican political establishment would vote against it and many would campaign this way. dailytelegraph.au/news/opinion/tonys-honours-system-to-be-all-right-on-the-knight/story-fni0cwl5-1226875456288
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 08:30:01 +0000
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