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A little wisdom and a good ear go a very long way

Tory Maguire

by Tory Maguire

25 Oct 05:50am

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Filed under: Governor General, Monarchy, Quentin Bryce, Republic, Society

62 comments

I’m part of an ever-shrinking club. Young people are resisting joining up in droves and well, we’re just not that cool any more. Yep, I’m in favour of Australia becoming a Republic.

Describe this image

I would like to see Quentin Bryce lose her job. So it was a very contradictory feeling yesterday when I found myself pleased about the news the Governor-General’s term was being extended until March 2014. It’s very inconvenient when people you’ve come to admire hold positions you’d like to see abolished.

Like the Queen. Can’t stand the monarchy, but Elizabeth II is terrific. And now I’ve developed a soft spot for our immaculately presented, incredibly hard-working, GG.

PR-wise Bryce had a rocky start to her stint in Yarralumla, which she started in 2008. There were reports of tensions in her office, speculation about her clothing budget and a sense that she was all too consumed with her own image.

Generally the position of GG was a bit embattled. After the glory days of William Dean, it was rocked by the Hollingworth years and then recovered with a somewhat lower profile during the tenure of the buttoned-up Michael Jeffery.

Back in 2009 my colleague Tory Shepherd accompanied Bryce on an Outback trip to visit some Aboriginal settlements.

It was a highly staged managed and thoroughly inauthentic experience. Shepherd wrote in the Advertiser at the time:

The sight of her pristine Excellence in an Aboriginal aged-care facility, surrounded by red dust and barbed wire is strange. An elderly Aboriginal woman smiles and nods as the Governor-General speaks quietly then waits for a response. “She doesn’t speak English, Your Excellency,” an embarrassed helper says. The media is carefully controlled, with questions vetted in advance and interviews monitored.

There was a general perception that the GG was a bit too imaculate, a bit too posh to be one of us.

Cut to 2012 and this insight from The Age’s Tony Wright:

Since her appointment on September 8, 2008, Ms Bryce has undertaken 2700 public engagements (’‘community engagements’‘, she corrects). That’s an average of more than two a day, every single day, more by a long stretch than any of her predecessors. The word community means much to this Governor-General. It implies connections everywhere, from women in remote outback homesteads to the night people of North Melbourne, and everyone between. Ms Bryce has set herself the task of listening to all their stories.

The GG is highly visible, cropping up in those amazing coloured suits at a dizzying array of events. There is no doubt she has eclipsed her recent predecessors in the profile stakes.

And it’s not condescension to say Bryce has grown into the job. She said as much to Wright herself: “I’ve learnt so much from so many people, my understanding of who we are is deeper, I’ve become more reflective and a little wiser.”

And surely wisdom is at the top of the list of traits we should seek in our Governor-General. Wisdom, the ability to listen, and a fabulous sense of style.

Quentin Bryce is doing my dwindling club no good whatsoever.

Comments on this post will close at 8pm AEST.

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62 comments

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    • GROBP says:

      05:27am | 25/10/12

      There’s a hundred issues need urgent attention before we start that again. It’s the main reason it didn’t get up and years later still nothing’s fixed and we’re visiting a republic again? Priorities please.

      Reply

    • Tubesteak says:

      06:45am | 25/10/12

      The main reason the Republic lost at the referendum is because JWH scuttled it by making us choose a form of government (without the details and a rewritten Constitution) that many didn’t like + a hokey preamble

      Sounds more like Bryce just has a good PR machine. Maybe both parties could use that.

    • Nathan says:

      06:48am | 25/10/12

      Name one issue that will miss the attention it needs because people want the Republic Debate?  Can we now only do one thing at a time?  To claim unresolved issues was the main reason is a joke considering the model put forward was the real issue. What hasn’t been fixed?

      I personally belief this should be a priority and so do plenty of others so why shouldn’t we have our voice heard.

    • GROBP says:

      08:55am | 25/10/12

      @Nathan

      Cleary Nathan we can’t do more than one thing at a time. I can tell both you and Tubesteak, my overwhelming anecdotal evidence at the time was, most people saying fix everything else first.

      Here’s a list to start Nathan, I may not get to 100 but given time I reckon I could.

      1.  Come up with a plan that doesn’t need population growth.
      2.  Get rid of state governments.
      3.  Less red tape and expense building
      4.  No retrospective laws affecting super.
      5.  Do something about obesity
      6.  Stop people smoking
      7.  Get everyone working.
      8.  Stop drugs affecting our society.
      9.  Synchronise traffic lights.
      10.  Stop trucks taking up all lanes at the lights.

      Actually you know what; I reckon I could come up with a thousand.

      DO NOT distract our very bust politicians. They have a lot of work to do.

    • GROBP says:

      09:11am | 25/10/12

      ...........“I personally belief this should be a priority “.........

      Why, what does it matter? There’ll be corruption, greed, and sleazy politicians no matter what model. What’s the benefit?

      I’m not for or against, like most people.

      I well remember the republic issue occupying every bit of media and air time while other things went ignored. It would not surprise me if this were a distraction designed by someone that wants us that way; distracted. Don’t let them trick us again and demand they get on task and back to my list.

    • Tubesteak says:

      10:14am | 25/10/12

      Your anecdotal evidence completely conflicts with my anecdotal evidence. Many people I knew at the time liked the idea of a Republic and wanted one but not the model that was put forth.

      Funnily enough, a lot of things in your list have something to do with Constitutional/Federation change which could include discussion about a Republic at the same time.

      Also, what does a government do about obesity? Outlaw fatness? I’m certain you’d be crying “PC gone mad nanny state” if they tried.

    • Steve of QBN says:

      10:54am | 25/10/12

      Tubesteak,  the reason it went south was because the Republican Movement TOLD the people of Australia which models they were to vote for. Add to this that JWH as PM did not “support” either the move FOR or AGAINST a republic.  He remained neutral on this as he should have but he did allow them to present their case.  Did he know something they didn’t?  Most likely.

      The Republican movement were too clever by half.  What they should have done is have a plebiscite to see how many voters wanted a republic BEFORE they went down the “pick this one or that” path.  They always assumed that “everyone” wanted a republic but never actually got around to ASKING if that was true.

      I remember watching a 60 Minutes program where a hard hitting guest reporter (Bob Hawke) interviewed GG Bill Hayden about the role of the GG and Republicanism.  Hayden said “if Australia woke up tomorrow as a republic, no-one would actually see any difference”. His main concern was the Reserve Powers the GG holds and what would become of them.  Would they go to the President?  Would they go to the PM?  Or would they be split between the two? 

      And nothing has changed.  Why the push to be a republic?  How will it benefit Australia?  The old saw about “an Australian Head of State” will come around again.  The Government recommends the GG, the Crown usually accepts that recommendation.  In fact, Ms Bryce just got as contract extension, recommended by the Government, accepted by the Crown.

    • Tubesteak says:

      11:14am | 25/10/12

      Steve
      Howard forced the ARM’s hand in coming up with a model. The model that was devised was determined behind closed doors by a very narrow vote (where monarchists voted knowing which one would be most unpopular). The ARM wanted to hold a plebiscite on just the issue of a Republic but Howard denied this opportunity and made them come up with a model. Howard was always a monarchist and steered the ARM down a dark path from the beginning.

    • acotrel says:

      06:19am | 25/10/12

      In my opinion, he problem with the republic doesn’t lie with the people actually involved at the very top.  It lies with preventing the political and corporate opportunists from exploiting the transition to the new paradigm, mindset and rules. I would love to see Australia become a re public and stand on its own two feet, but I feel we would be throwing the baby out with the bath water.  Imagine Abbott if it was about to happen, he is so mad keen to grab power he would do literally anything to manipulate the situation.

      Reply

    • Al says:

      07:25am | 25/10/12

      acotrel re: “Imagine Abbott if it was about to happen, he is so mad keen to grab power he would do literally anything to manipulate the situation.”
      Correct, but a more acurate statement would be ‘Imagine (insert any politicians name here) if it was about to happen, they are so mad keen to grab power they would do literally anything to manipulate the situation.’
      And of course that is the same situation we are in NOW.
      I am yet to hear of what actual benefit remaining a subject nation to the UK is to Australia.

    • Travis says:

      07:40am | 25/10/12

      Mad keen to grab power you say? Just like any politician anywhere?

      Your comment reads like someone feverishly paranoid.

    • Al says:

      07:56am | 25/10/12

      Travis - Really? Paranoid?
      Please name 1 politician, just 1, that is not “mad keen to grab power”, any power they can get their hands on?
      Besides, to be paranoid it would need to be an ‘irrational fear’. As I don’t fear politicians, I just see them as power hungry, and I have only seen evidence that they are all after whatever power they can get it is not a fear and is not irrational.

    • Eric says:

      08:31am | 25/10/12

      @Al - never mind mate.  Standard tactic on the punch forum board here.  If someone says something “out of the ordinary” or that goes against your own belief system, what you do is just go for the jugular with a personal attack, but you veil it, so what it does is discredit the other persons point of view by lumping them in with something a little bit unpopular.  Usually its their professional medical opinion of your mental state, or you must be some kind of conspiracy theorist. 

      Anyone that needs to attack you like that isn’t worth responding to.
      For the record Al I agree with you.
      Anyone who thinks that those with power and influence don’t seek to gain more power, or increase their sphere of influence is being incredibly naive.

    • Michael says:

      08:56am | 25/10/12

      Eric, i see what you are saying, it is also worth remembering that to represent your electorate you must have the power to do so, to represent the entire country you need substantially more power.  The pursuit of power in itself is neither good nor bad, the intention behind the use of power is where the problems lay and whether or not you are a beneficiary.

    • acotrel says:

      09:15am | 25/10/12

      @Michael
      You sound like Maxwell Smart - ‘if only he had used his power for goodness instead of evil’.  We don’t have that problem with Abbott, he is under the tutelage of George Pell.

    • Eric says:

      09:41am | 25/10/12

      @Michael - sure its like money, its neither good nor evil its a vehicle.
      The problem with human nature is, and its well known, that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and more often than not, those that seek power are usually the last people that should have it (because they usually want it so they can abuse it or use it for their own agenda)  Doesnt matter what side of the fence politcally you sit on, humans are just humans and prone to corruption.

    • Michael says:

      10:03am | 25/10/12

      Eric, yep people are the biggest obstacle to everything people hope to achieve, hard to live with us, illegal to kill us,immoral to force us.

      The funny thing is, everything we have ourselves all worked up about is infact our own doing. We invent religion to answer questions of origin and alleviate fears, then fight to the death over the differences in interpretation. We invent currency and commerce then fight to the death to amass more and more of the stuff, it’s weird, the concepts we implement to solve problems create new equally disturbing problems.

      Acotrel, Good morning smile

    • Steve of QBN says:

      12:03pm | 25/10/12

      @acrotrel,  and Gillard is under the tutelage of Marx, Engels and Stalin.  Your point????

    • BJ says:

      12:37pm | 25/10/12

      I just love those words, “in my opinion”

    • Anthony says:

      06:24am | 25/10/12

      Hard to focus on our problem here in Australia when you see the pixilated photo in the article above

      Reply

    • Master Day says:

      06:48am | 25/10/12

      I’m no fawning monachist but Australia already has a very serious self inflicted problem with it’s elites. For a so called egalatarian country a frankly terrifyingly small number of people wield an exceptional amount of power here.

      I shudder to think of the epic death match between Sydney & Canberra spivs and the Melbourne born to rule boys club for the right to ‘rule’ Australia. The baby boomers have had more than enough out of this land thank you very much.

      We do wild west style “Anything goes to the right people paying the right people” way to well in Australia.

      Given the passport burning hideousness of this scenario, I’m more than happy to keep the status quo, it’s hardly broken. I’d rather change our flag from the union flag at night to something real and iconic like the Canadians did.

      Reply

    • NESLIHAN KUROSAWA says:

      07:02am | 25/10/12

      Hi Tory,

      Would it make a great deal of difference either way in the long run for most Australians anyway? I think that Australia is just perfect the way it is with all the right connections to the Royal Family.  I truly feel that having a royal family to look up to makes us all feel like a bit of royalty, right?  Mostly the members of the Royal Family have the effect of watching those pink series like the Young & the Restless and Days of our Lives, where we don’t have to do much serious thinking about anything really. 

      Somehow It just happens to be the ultimate kind of escapism at its best from everyday mundane realities by truly giving our lives a bit of spice and colour.  I was personally addicted to watching all the live telecasts of the Royal Weddings once upon a time.  Also buying and reading magazines such as Woman’s Day and HELLO wouldn’t be the same without the colourful pictures of the Royal Family members, decorating some pages.

      However I do congratulate on your choice and determination of Australia becoming a republic.  I also wanted to say that there are a lot republics around the world with not such bright futures or bright lives to talk about.  Australia is a very young nation trying to work a lot of things and I personally believe that time is the best medicine and answer to all those questions about Australia becoming a republic, may be one day?  Kind regards.

      Reply

    • Louise says:

      12:07pm | 25/10/12

      Good point about other republics around the world, NK.  A proper comparison doesn’t often get made in this debate.

    • tez says:

      08:11am | 25/10/12

      Australia is a bit like those bloody children who stay at home till they are 25/30 we are to appethetic and lazy to get out of our own way, and don’t say it’s the economy with the kid it is not they are to far up themselves to rough it

      Reply

    • Richo says:

      11:34am | 25/10/12

      I’m more worried about Australia taking orders from the dud that is the UN.

    • Dan says:

      12:28pm | 25/10/12

      Richo, try not be be such a dill. Australia does not take orders from the UN (and I agree it’s a dud!). You are well in the running for the half-wit of the day award.

    • The Razor says:

      08:17am | 25/10/12

      We have seen what unbelievable actions Gillard has taken just to get and hold onto power, which is now in the history books. So imagine what manipulation would be going on in secret if we went to a republic. The laughable moronic comments here about what Abbott would do is beyond belief, they offer no facts about Abbott, and yet we have a disgraceful track record on Gillard which they conveniently forget. Must be the desperate Labor puppets again !

      Reply

    • Terry2 says:

      08:18am | 25/10/12

      Under our current democratic and constitutional arrangements we fund Her Majesty’s Opposition in our parliament which, in the prevailing federal composition , is just funding a group of feral politicians to do everything they possibly can to disrupt the ‘peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth’. As long as we continue to have a foreign monarch as our constitutional head of state we should recognise the good work done by her representative.

      Reply

    • Steve of QBN says:

      12:14pm | 25/10/12

      @Terry2.  Sorry, having trouble reading your post.  I take it you object to paying for the Opposition?  Because they oppose the government?  But Terry, while ever there is a two (or three?) party system, someone has to be in government and someone has to be in opposition.  Today it’s Gillard / Abbott, tomorrow, it may be Abbott / Swan.

      And newsflash… the oppositions role is to .... well… oppose bad legislation otherwise it wouldn’t be an opposition, it would be in government.

    • The Razor says:

      08:23am | 25/10/12

      You have to be kidding ” a soft spot for our immaculately presented, incredibly hard-working, GG “....... Yes very hard working to promote everything Labor, which is a conflict of interest. Racks up a massive amount of money on luxury travel overseas, and is considered to be a very expensive GG. This is one position Australia does not need !!!!

      Reply

    • Jane Goodluck says:

      08:29am | 25/10/12

      I’m a Republican myself, but it strikes me we’ll have to wait some time yet for a more mature, sensible period in Aus political and social debate before we can hope to make a sound decision.

      I do agree with the core of the article.  You wouldn’t think so from some of the vicious slapping dished out to her here, but tuning out the hysterics of the ultra-Right, we have another very good Governor General.

      From recent history, we should absorb the lesson that that’s a matter of luck as much as good judgement.

      I do not see that having a really good titular but unelected Head of State undermines a future Republic at all.

      The trick will be to to make sure an elected (and purely titular)  Head of State is at least as good as Bryce, Jeffery, Deane, Stephen, and Cowen. And somehow better - far, far better - than the Haydens, Hollingworths and Kerrs.

      Meanwhile, a large part of our cultural heritage, national and political history is of British origin. Rich and varied, good and bad. Something to be proud of and to remember with affection and honesty: we fought along side these people in two wars, to defend the same ideals, unde the same Monarchs.

      We’re a mature society. Rather bad-tempered at present, perhaps, but that will pass, surely. We can certainly afford to take our time to devise a good, sound Republic model that we can all support. Well, maybe all but that florid blimp Flint.

      Reply

    • Dave says:

      09:26am | 25/10/12

      In a more mature, sensible period of debate, would there be talk about “vicious slapping dished out” by the “ultra-Right”?

      Or is it just everyone who disagrees with you that is guilty of immature and ‘bad-tempered’ dialogue?

    • Steve of QBN says:

      12:27pm | 25/10/12

      Jane Goodluck.  ” And somehow better - far, far better - than the Haydens, Hollingworths and Kerrs.”  Good point. 

      Bill Hayden was made GG by Bob Hawke as payment for going quietly after Hawke knifed him to become leader of the Parliamentary ALP.  A true job for the boys that one.  Not to say he was a bad GG just a bad look. Depending on the republic model, we could see more of this…

      Peter Hollingsworth.  Resigned from office because it “said” that he protected cleric child molesters.  He didn’t but that’s beside the point huh?  However he was an interesting choice considering the separation of church and state under the Westminster System of government.  Would (or should) a cleric be barred from being GG?  Or President?

      Sir John Kerr…. what can I say?  An own goal by the PM who put him in the job, Edward Gough Whitlam.  And this comes neatly back to those pesky reserve powers.

      A final point, all GGs (good, bad and indifferent) are put up the Crown by the PM.  The PM can take guidance but the PM has the (almost) final say.  The Crown very rarely goes against that recommendation.

    • wolf says:

      09:06am | 25/10/12

      This would extend her tenure out past the next federal election (where her son in law is a candidate for one of the parties) to appoint and swear in the new government yeah?

      Reply

    • Bris Jack says:

      09:07am | 25/10/12

      Wish she would give Gillard some help.
      The June Dally Watkins of Yarralumla.

      Reply

    • AdamC says:

      09:17am | 25/10/12

      The mistake the republicans made, and are still making, is constantly trying to talk about the republic in the abstract. That underestimates the intelligence of the public, who realise that switching to a republic means settling on a different form of government. For example, should the President be elected or appointed?

      Until there is a settled proposal that the republicans can get behind, and that the public can support, the republicans are basically trying to run with broken legs.

      That doesn’t bother me, though. I am a reformed republican who is now a staunch royalist.

      Reply

    • Max Redlands says:

      09:33am | 25/10/12

      @ Jane GL “The trick will be to to make sure an elected (and purely titular)  Head of State is at least as good”

      Therein lies a major problem doesn’t it? An elected President either titular or with real executive powers will immediately politicize the position to a degree far greater than it already is, particularly if the position carries real executive power. Just what we need in Australia - more politicians.

      Further, to the question generally, how will nominations be accepted? Is any Australian citizen entitled to throw their hat in the ring or will some committee of beauracrats put foward candidates from a selected group?

      Another problem I see facing the Repuclican movement is this - even if 50% of the population wanted a Republic the support base for that posiiton could well be split 50/50 itself between direct election and the minimalist model (where the appointment is made much like the way the GG is appointed). Therefore whatever model is adopted it will, on those numbers, only have 25% support of the population - hardly democractic.

      Lastly there is the simple fact that accomodating either the election or the appoointment of a President will require a complete reworking of the Constitution (particulalrly so in the case of an elected Head of State) and given the history of the failure of even rather minor Constitutional amendments I would suggest those hoping that such a change would be supported are pushing a very heavy barrow up a very steep hill.

      I think if Australia is to become a Republic we will probably have to do it the old fashioned way - armed over-throw of the ancien regime either internally or by external forces (i.e. in the case of the latter, invasion by another State).

      Reply

    • Stephen T says:

      09:42am | 25/10/12

      @Jane Goodluck: “but that florid blimp Flint”, colourful to be sure, anyone would get the impression from your comments that you don’t like him.  I can’t criticise you though I have similar feelings about John Howard and Julia Gillard.  My only objection to a republic is that it would possibly give the Politicians even more power, perhaps when the current lot put Australia in receivership and an administrator gets appointed to sort everything out things will get better.
      Goodluck Jane

      Reply

    • Bomb78 says:

      09:45am | 25/10/12

      Tory - you might be in favour of a republic, but can you please give Sir William Deane the respect he deserves by spelling his name correctly. You may not like it, but we a re still a monarchy, so please use his title as well.

      Reply

    • kim says:

      09:51am | 25/10/12

      can someone please remind me what the benefits are of Australia becoming a republic, I can’t think of any reasons why its so important to some people.

      Reply

    • Levi says:

      10:30am | 25/10/12

      And therein lies the problem Kim, there is no benefit to us becoming a republic. All it will do is cost us hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars so bureaucrats can go around removing the word “royal” or “commonwealth” from anything official in this country. And instead of a GG we have a president so we’re not even saving money on wages. I seriously don’t see why people have a problem with the status quo. The flag is fine, the system is fine, we get a nice visit every now and then from the royals and that’s that. It does not impact any anybody’s lives in any meaningful way.

      All it is is yet another attempt by the professionally offended left to remove any trace of our British heritage because it doesn’t sit nicely with the cult of enforced multiculturalism.

    • Murray says:

      10:40am | 25/10/12

      Kim, one actual benefit is that we would not have the treasonous Prince William of England as our monarch.
      William, as President of the English Football Association, directed the FA nominee on FIFA’s Excom to vote AGAINST Australia and to vote instead for the USA in the recent World Cup vote- and vote swapping is against FIFA’s rules!!
      The Australian media only printed 1 story on this and then ignored this act of treachery - probably as the British Royals help sell content in this country.
      And, of course, Australia will continue as a mediocre monarchy continuing to fawn over people who really don’t give a toss about us.

    • Spin says:

      10:33am | 25/10/12

      I think we need to start with a new flag… Why are we still saluting a Union Jack and a flag that’s virtually identical to New Zealand and a number of other south Pacific nations. I’d much rather the boxing kangaroo! It’s a little piece of Australia we can all agree on…

      Reply

    • Murray says:

      11:15am | 25/10/12

      Spin, the monarchists in this country always come out with tradition and that the flag represents stability. They seem to overlook the fact that of the 54 member nations of the Commonwealth only 4 (excluding the UK) have the Union Jack on their flag . And one of those is Fiji - that bastion of military dictatorship - so I guess the Union Jack also represents instability and the death of democracy.
      By the way, why are we, as a nation, too gutless to stand up to Colonel Banarama ? Why haven’t we overthrown this scumbag? We seem to have no problem fighting other dictators when we have the USA to assist- maybe, the monarchists are right and we are too immature to do things by ourselves.

    • difficult lemon says:

      11:52am | 25/10/12

      @ Spin “I’d much rather the boxing kangaroo! It’s a little piece of Australia we can all agree on…”

      Good grief!!

      I take it, or rather hope, you are joking.

    • tez says:

      04:30pm | 25/10/12

      Yes Spin I would like a new flag something out there we have great creative artistic people here who should be able to come up with something beautiful maybe another competition but a real one this time but we had better do it soon. because one day there will be no artisans left,

    • Jay2 says:

      10:54am | 25/10/12

      What was it, $8,000.00 a week on flowers??
      A three day visit to France costing $108,000.00 ???? ..that’s just a little example of what our immaculately presented GG costs us.

      In the meantime,  all those people on waiting lists for medical procedures; wheelchairs; basic repairs to schools, police stations, well ... as long as the GG has her flowers I guess all is ‘a-ok’ in Australia.

      No, another bloated useless government waste, GG should go NOW! I am NOT pleased with 2014.

      Reply

    • B. says:

      11:29am | 25/10/12

      Just another Labor crony.  One more Labor woman whose wasteful expenditures happen to include a penchant for expensive fresh flowers.

      Such an overt display of extravagance requires a very thick hide.

      If she wasn’t a close relative of Labor’s Bill Shorten, her appointment wouldn’t be quite so galling.  But as little Billy might proffer, “Let’s be clear about dis, I fink we we are better off wiv her wever you like it or not”.

    • Rosie says:

      11:01am | 25/10/12

      Great article Tory!

      Unlike you I am a monarch and your article is part of the reason why I am one. I just love looking up at someone with the calibre of our female GG. She has it all, gentleness, kindness, thoughtfulness and like you - wisdom which is at the top of the list of traits. I also love her classy style and if I have to say a good choice on Labor’s part this one couldn’t be better.

      I wish our PM and the Labor women would just give me 1/4 of that appeal even if it was to do with their dress sense. I don’t think I have ever seen Penny Wong in a skirt or dress.

      Reply

    • Louise says:

      12:14pm | 25/10/12

      I agree, Rosie.  Personal choice of course - but would it kill them to wear a dress instead of those preppy blazers and shirts? That’s “feminism” - women at the top wearing the male uniform.

    • Rosie says:

      01:39pm | 25/10/12

      Louise

      Oh is that what it is “modern age feminism” I think it is obvious with Labor women because there are more of them and the fact is that the very experienced Bishops Lib ladies are always immaculately dressed with style like the GG. The other day, I swear Penny Wong looked very much like a male in her dark pants suit when she came on to speak with Wayne Swan.

      I wouldn’t mind if all our GGs were females like the current one. Always a pleasure to watch and listen to - could represent me and my country anytime.

    • Robert Smissen says:

      11:13am | 25/10/12

      Gosh & I thought she was just a tool of the Labor government, grovelling to African despots to gather votes for a temporary UN

      Reply

    • Tell It Like It Is says:

      12:44pm | 25/10/12

      You’re really hitting the ‘funny bone’ today @ Mr Smissen. Thanks again.
      Welcome to the exclusive reality club!

    • Capitulation in china says:

      11:49am | 25/10/12

      It’s inevitable that in time, Australia will become a republic, but I don’t see the need for any rush. Many supporters of the monarchy just don’t like change and can’t see any benefit, however there are older people who fought for ‘king and country’, and for them, to lose the flag, and all that goes with it, would be painful. Of course there are old people who couldn’t care less, but I’m inclined to let those that do or did have that connection to the crown, live out their days without this unnecessary complication to their lives. Bring in a referendum in 15 or so years and the passage of time will more likely end in a yes vote.

      Reply

    • murray says:

      04:10pm | 25/10/12

      Funny that the people who “fought under our flag’ were not too upset when we replaced God save the Queen with Advance Australia Fair!!
      Didn’t they “fight under the Anthem” as well ??

    • Tell It Like It Is says:

      12:30pm | 25/10/12

      The main part of your article with which I agree is “I would like to see Quentin Bryce lose her job”.  She gets me right at the back of the tongue where is located the what is called the ‘gag reflex’ in medical terminology.

      Reply

    • theangrywarden says:

      12:39pm | 25/10/12

      It’s funny, isn’t it, how most Republicans respect the institutions of the monarchy and the GG while quietly wishing their expiry? If you ask me, the strongest move the Australian Republican Movement could make would be to place its support firmly behind Quentin Bryce as the first president of Australia with a 5 year term. The fear factor would disappear immediately.

      Reply

    • Get on with it! says:

      01:14pm | 25/10/12

      Surprising to see the vast majority of comments against the republic. I think the lack of visible leadership on it is creating a bit of a monster, where in actual fact, the republic would allow us to grow up a little, stop being so self-doubting, rid us of our minority complex and (perhaps most importantly) better integrate ourselves with our neighbors and most important trading partners. Not to mention that an Australian is not our head of state!

      Reply

    • marley says:

      01:53pm | 25/10/12

      @Get on with it! -  Hmm. Not sure about your argument there.  If we are self-doubting (which I don’t see, myself) it’s not because we’re a monarchy.  The Swedes and the Dutch seem to be pretty self-confident, after all.  And for integrating with our neighbours and trading partners, monarchies aren’t exactly unknown in Asia - Thailand and Brunei, to name but two, and a major trading partner in Japan makes three.

    • Tell It Like It Is says:

      01:31pm | 25/10/12

      Actually the real reason for retaining her is to shore up security against a recurrence of the Kerr/Whitlam ALP catastrophe.  Which we’re all wishin’ and hopin’ for - and the sooner the better so we can “move forward”.

      Reply

    • Nicko says:

      06:42pm | 25/10/12

      The timing seems hugely suspicious, considering the activities of the Police and not to mention a certain nasty rumor swirling around Canberra. Methinks the ALP wants to head off another potential Kerr’s cur. The Dismissal 2.0 is no doubt now in the major parties contingencies. Get the popcorn ready.

    • Swamp Thing says:

      02:18pm | 25/10/12

      Future PM is sonny-in-law so its all pretty sweet actually.
      Where do they find these characters?

      Reply
 
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