THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

And so Australia gets a new Governor-General. And in appointing  Quentin Bryce, Prime Minister Rudd could not have made a better choice. Male or female.

She is probably the most qualified person to take on that job in years. The current Governor of Queensland is a former Federal sex discrimination commissioner, a law lecturer, a delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, a girl from the bush who is now a married mother of five with  five grandchildren.

Even Republicans have welcomed her appointment even though many, like me, dream that as the country’s 25th Governor-General she is also the last. The finale in an anachronistic, paternalistic, forelock-tugging system that will end when we DO finally become a totally independent, free-standing, nation.

It must irk a Republican like Kevin Rudd that he has to go through the charade of supposedly asking the Queen’s permission to accept the nomination he has put forward. When she can’t refuse his choice anyway.

It is ironic that Ms Bryce will be called on to rebuild some stature to the office which was degraded by Prime Minister Howard on two counts. Once by appointing Archbishop Peter Hollingworth who had to resign in disgrace and then by appointing Michael Jeffery (Michael Who? ) and turning him into a ceremonial eunuch by assuming most of his duties for himself.

But the appointment does raise some good debating points. One of which was summed up in a front page cartoon in The Australian.  It shows Rudd introducing Bryce to Yarralumla and saying ‘This proves that any Australian, male or female, can aspire to represent the foreign monarch, king or queen, of their own country’.

It also raises the question again: Why should one man, be it Whitlam, Howard or Rudd, have total control over who should be appointed Governor-General? Legally, Rudd could have appointed Therese Rein and nothing could be done about it until the next election or unless his party overthrew him before the nomination got to the Palace.

Much will be made of the supposed fact that Bryce is a monarchist.  She is not. When appointed Queensland governor in 2003 she said she had great admiration for the monarchy. That’s not quite the same thing. And asked if she thought of herself as a Republican she said ‘I think I will just leave it at that’.

Coincidentally a poll conducted at the weekend confirmed what Prime Minister Rudd has signalled in London.  He’s a Republican but achieving that goal is not high on his list of priorities in his first term in office.

There is a growing feeling that the time for the umbilical cord to be broken is after the death or unlikely abdication of The Queen and the ascension f Charles or his son William to the throne. Thirty per cent of people questioned thought that we should become a republic following ther end of Queen Elizabeth’s reign. Add that to committed Republicans and only 26% believe we should permanently remain a monarchic state.

Frankly, I think the Duke of Edinburgh got it right when news of the referendum defeat reached London nearly a decade ago. He said ‘What’s wrong with these people? ‘What indeed.

Monday, April 15, 2008

© Copyright Derryn Hinch 2008