Student number: s3847443
1 of 9
An Australian Republic?
Word Count including footnotes: 2,460 Constitutional Law - BLB1118
Annastasia Kyriakidis Student number: s3847443
Student number: s3847443
2 of 9
This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of having an Australian republic as oppose to the current Constitutional monarchy in place. The paper covers many of the popular arguments both for and against an Australian republic; from the hereditary right of the Crown, to the values of the people being represented in law and most importantly within the Constitution of Australia. The paper concludes that instating a republic is the better alternative, being the last step in fully recognising Australiaʼs independence from the United Kingdom.
Introduction Australia's current system of government consists of a Constitutional monarchy whereby the Crown, currently Queen Elizabeth the 2nd, is the head of state as established within the Commonwealth Constitution of Australia1. In practice the Queen is represented by the GovernorGeneral federally and Governors at state level, who are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister and State Premiers by the Queen, leaving all other duties to the Governor-General. The Queens representative although limited to performing ceremonial work and acting on the advice of ministers, also has reserve powers granted within the Constitution2 that allow the dismissal of the Prime Minister and or whole parties. In contrast to what Australia is now a republic is “a sovereign and independent state possessing a representative government of the people; a state where the will or consent of the governed people is the source of all governmental authority” open to all citizens irrelevant of race, colour, creed and sex 3. This definition, which is linked to concepts such as independence and sovereignty, is characteristic of what Australia is today, with the exception of a monarch. In this paper the idea of an Australian... [continues]
1 of 9
An Australian Republic?
Word Count including footnotes: 2,460 Constitutional Law - BLB1118
Annastasia Kyriakidis Student number: s3847443
Student number: s3847443
2 of 9
This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of having an Australian republic as oppose to the current Constitutional monarchy in place. The paper covers many of the popular arguments both for and against an Australian republic; from the hereditary right of the Crown, to the values of the people being represented in law and most importantly within the Constitution of Australia. The paper concludes that instating a republic is the better alternative, being the last step in fully recognising Australiaʼs independence from the United Kingdom.
Introduction Australia's current system of government consists of a Constitutional monarchy whereby the Crown, currently Queen Elizabeth the 2nd, is the head of state as established within the Commonwealth Constitution of Australia1. In practice the Queen is represented by the GovernorGeneral federally and Governors at state level, who are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister and State Premiers by the Queen, leaving all other duties to the Governor-General. The Queens representative although limited to performing ceremonial work and acting on the advice of ministers, also has reserve powers granted within the Constitution2 that allow the dismissal of the Prime Minister and or whole parties. In contrast to what Australia is now a republic is “a sovereign and independent state possessing a representative government of the people; a state where the will or consent of the governed people is the source of all governmental authority” open to all citizens irrelevant of race, colour, creed and sex 3. This definition, which is linked to concepts such as independence and sovereignty, is characteristic of what Australia is today, with the exception of a monarch. In this paper the idea of an Australian... [continues]
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