The Importance of Our Constitutional Monarchy
We live in a time of uncertainty and even turmoil. The public has lost confidence in the political process and in the larger institutions which form part of the establishment such as the banking sector. At the same time Marxist/Fabian inspired activists are successfully tearing down the very fabric of our Christian and British society; so much so that many things that were once considered wrong are now embraced as normal. Some say that Christianity has lost its way, but it’s not Christianity that is at fault but the behaviour of those appointed to govern us, whether within the nation or even within the Church itself. Indeed, many priests have thrown aside the tenets of the Bible in favour of populism and most even deny that Australia was ever a Christian nation. It goes without saying that many are republicans.
However, as hard as they may try, the one thing activists cannot change is the Australian Constitution. This is because our founding fathers ensured that the Constitution was vested in the people and not in the Parliament as is the case in so many countries which adopted the Westminster system. This means that, in Australia, politicians alone cannot change one word of the Constitution. Any change must be put to the people at referendum which requires a majority vote in a majority of States plus a majority nationwide vote.
If this were not so our politicians would have made us into a republic long ago.
The Australian Constitution is based on the Crown. Whilst the preamble to the Constitution specifies that our Federation is established under the Crown of the United Kingdom, that Crown has become divisible amongst the sixteen nations – or Realms - of which the Queen is sovereign. This means that whilst the Queen can be said to be executive head of state of the United Kingdom, her role as Queen of Australia is subject only to the Australian Constitution and the Australian people. In this day and age Australia is a totally independent nation with its own Federal and State parliaments which legislate our own laws. The only impediments to total sovereignty are the various foreign treaties and agreements entered into by the Australian government.
Many people who are not in favour of a republic resile from supporting the monarchy because they do not agree with the fact that the Queen is not popularly elected and neither is the Governor-General nor are the State Governors.
It is therefore important to understand how the hereditary nature of our monarchy fits into our constitutional system. Our founding fathers decided that Australia should be a constitutional monarchy i.e.: a King subject to a constitution. Because the elective process, whether it be of a president or an ordinary member of Parliament, is competitive, even combative, requiring funding for an election campaign and support from one side of the community but more particularly from business, the elective process incorporates elements of corruption. By that, I do not necessarily mean corruption as in monetary bribery, but in the return of favours and access not available to the ordinary individual. This is tremendously important for any business wishing to promote its products or services, and many will pay dearly for this.
Under our system of governance one cannot influence the Queen. After all, as sovereign head of state the Queen’s predominant constitutional role is to formally appoint the Governor-General who thereafter acts in her stead as executive constitutional head of state. Furthermore, it is not worth bribing a Governor-General, because he (or she) does not control the decisions of the government but rather ensures that the government acts in accordance with the Constitution. It is the Prime Minister - and often ministers - who have the power to make decisions which may or may not affect certain business and corporate interests. However, if we had a republic, the president would require huge monetary and political backing obviously leading to the potentially corrupt return of favours.
Therefore, the hereditary principle is a fundamental element of our constitutional arrangements because it means that the Queen is not a part of the party-political process and, once appointed, the Governor-General is required to rise above politics. Whilst they are advised, even instructed, by the government, their masters are the people, and their responsibility and duty is to the people and the people alone.
This is why, in over a hundred years since the Constitution was first enacted in 1901, Australia has advanced from being a group of disparate colonies into a united federated nation whose lifestyle has become an envy of the world. Our constitutional stability is due solely to our constitution and the fact that only the people can change it.
In no way should we ever become a republic because the total party-politicisation of our constitutional process will destroy utterly the stability which has made us, one of the youngest nations in the world, into one of the world’s oldest existing democracies.
Philip Benwell
National Chair
Australian Monarchist League