When he made his oath of allegiance before the Governor of Western Australia as Premier on 25 January 2006, Mr. Gallop declared:
"I Geoffrey Ian Gallop so solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth II, Her heirs and successors in the office of Premier".
Mr. Gallop was recently made head of the Australian Republican Movement.
The Attorney-General for Queensland, the Hon. Jarrod Bleijie, has announced the restoration of the title Queen's Counsel. This is the subject of a report by Michael Madigan in The Courier-Mail on 12 December, 2012.
[ Attorney-General for Queensland, the Hon. Jarrod Bleijie ]
ACM, who have long campaigned for this, congratulate the Attorney on reversing this rather childish example of creeping republicanism.
Anyone who knows would understand that the title enjoys not only international recognition but also among the general public. There was no good reason to end it.
As we reported in this column in 2009, New Zealand has already restored this rank. Earlier this year we noted that the Queensland Bar Association had given support to the return of the rank in that state.
As senior lawyers converge on Queensland, other states and the Commonwealth will be forced to restore the rank.
A word of warning to senior lawyers in other states. Do not stand between your republican colleagues and getting to Brisbane airport, otherwise you’ll be knocked over in the rush.
...eliminating confusion, international recognition...
We have seen three polls this year on support for constitutional change to a republic , that is changing our Federal Commonwealth under the Crown to a politicians’ republic.
[ Note: For Essential and Galaxy,there are no lines - see the text below]
Opinion polls typically exaggerate support for a referendum. This is not because they are wrong.
First the question in the poll may be different than that in the referendum. Then, people have not heard the debate which precedes the vote. People may not be inclined to reveal their intentions especially if the media has determined that a No vote is unfashionable and worse, wrong. Finally, voting in a referendum is a serious and final act.
..referendum, plebiscite would be defeated...
On these results, a referendum would be overwhelmingly defeated. As would a plebiscite - however much the spin doctors worked on the question.
While Essential and UMR are about a vague undefined republic, Morgan’s question is about a republic with an elected president, which many assume to be the most popular model.
I agree with Professor Craven that if this model were put to the people, it would result in a greater defeat than in 1999. This is because most of the republican politicians and many in the media would argue strongly against it.
“In a bizarre way I feel sorry for the Australian Republican movement,” wrote former Minister of the Crown and former Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in the eighties, Neil Brown QC.
This appeared in his regular column, “Brown Study”, in The Spectator Australia, 8 December 2012.
“When I saw the coach roll down Pall Mall at the royal wedding, the Queen set sail in her barge at the jubilee and, now, when I heard the news that William and Kate are to have a baby, I watched the republican case get weaker still.
“If another referendum were held today, the republican proposal would fail again.
The long and inspirational life of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch has come to a peaceful end.
The renowned community leader, charity worker, philanthropist, encourager of the arts and other endeavours, and the beloved matriarch of Australia’s greatest media family, died in her sleep at her home, Cruden Farm, in Victoria.
Dame Elisabeth, Patron of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, was born in 1909.
"We were enormously honoured when Dame Elisabeth agreed to become our Patron," said National Convenor, Professor David Flint.
"Dame Elisabeth, a lady of great dignity and immense charm, was particularly concerned about the education of the nation's children, especially in our history and system of government.
"Australians for Constitutional Monarchy extend our deepest sympathy to Mr. Murdoch and members of the family on this very sad news."
Wife of the late Sir Keith Murdoch - a giant of journalism and a newspaper pioneer - she was the mother of four children including Rupert Murdoch, who went on to build a great and influential media empire which circled the globe.
She leaves behind her children, Rupert, Anne Kantor, Janet Calvert-Jones, and the enduring memory of her eldest daughter, Helen Handbury, who died in 2004.
Dame Elisabeth is also survived by 77 living direct descendants including eight great-great grandchildren, as well as other members of her large and extended family.
Australians will be delighted by the announcement that Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge, is expecting a child.
The Royal Couple have endeared themselves to people throughout the Commonwealth and the world.
Whether a boy or girl, the baby will be third in the line of succession under announced changes to the Act of Settlement.
This will be an incentive to governments of the sixteen Realms to proceed with the necessary legislation.
This event crowns what has been an exciting Diamond Jubilee year, during which The Queen’s impeccable service over sixty majestic years has been celebrated in Australia and beyond.
The birth will occur around the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty’s Coronation.
Australians will wish Catherine, Prince William and the baby well.
On the occasion of the 64th birthday of the Prince of Wales, the English-Speaking Union (New South Wales Branch) and Australians for Constitutional Monarchy assembled at the Sir Stamford Hotel in Sydney on 14 November, 2012.
The meeting was addressed by Professor David Flint. His subject was "In praise of the Prince of Wales".
In this introduction Professor Flint indicated that he would attempt to answer three questions:
1. Who is Prince Charles? 2. How important is he to the governance of Australia, the United Kingdom and indeed the Commonwealth? 3. Will he succeed the Queen? This raises corollary issues about a republic - a politicians' republic - and the way Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be formally described.
In his address, "In praise of the Prince of Wales", Professor Flint says one particular fact tells us what sort of man the Prince is.
In 2008, at a time in his life when most people would be looking forward to their retirement, the Prince threw himself into his work and raised the sterling equivalent of one quarter of $1 billion - that is billion not million - for a wide range of very worthy charities. This year is typical.
His is a very well rounded man with interests ranging from the environment, the heritage, architecture, alternative medicine and many other areas.
And in most instances, he became interested well before the issue became fashionable. For the several nations over which will be he will reign, he will be - in so many ways - an ideal monarch.
It is the 70th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Armidale about 100km off the coast of East Timor, recalled John Bradford of Eden Hills, South Australia in a letter to The Australian on 1 December 2012.
[ HMAS Armidale - Australian War Museum 026612 ]
“The Armidale was overwhelmed by a force of Japanese torpedo-bombers and dive-bombers. The torpedoes that hit it cost the lives of 100 navy personnel and Javanese soldiers.
[ Singapore tragically lost - Australian War Museum 127905 ]
In 1999, ACM argued that what was crucial to the debate was the role and function of the Crown in the Australian Constitution particularly as a check and balance on the exercise of power.
While nobody doubted the personal virtues of The Queen, the debate was not about the incumbent sovereign, but about the institution, the Australian Crown.
While it is clear that Prince Charles will make an excellent King, from a strictly constitutional point of view excellence in the incumbent is not crucial.
That said, it is of course important that the people respect their sovereign. There is no doubt that the qualities Prince Charles offers will ensure that they will.
In the final part of this address, Professor Flint answers several questions concerning the succession.
These include:
1. Will Prince Charles succeed the Queen? 2. Will Australia become a republic? 3. And what of Camilla - how will she be known?
Professor Flint says that Prince Charles will most definitely succeed the Queen. He dismisses newspaper talk about "skipping a generation". This just will not happen, it should not happen and Prince William would not allow it to happen.
Nor will the end of the reign be the silver bullet which delivers a politicians' republic. Professor Flint explains why this will not happen.
As to the title of Camilla Duchess of Cornwall on the succession, she would normally become Queen Consort. At the time of the marriage of the Prince and the Duchess, it was said that on the succession, she would be known as the Princess Consort. There is no doubt that it is within the prerogative of a King to effect this.
But it seems that on reflection, this is now unlikely and that the normal convention will prevail - the Duchess will be known as Queen Consort, or simply Queen.
Will she be Queen of Australia? No, not in the strict sense. There is only one Royal title in Australia and that is of the reigning sovereign. The King will be King of Australia and his wife will be the Queen Consort. Of course in popular parlance they will be referred to as The king and Queen of Australia.
Professor Flint summarises his conclusions to the three questions at 16.59 minutes on this video.
These are:
1. Who is Prince Charles? 2. How important is he to the governance of Australia, the United Kingdom and indeed the Commonwealth? 3. Will he succeed the Queen? This raises corollary issues about a republic - a politicians' republic - and the way Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be formally described.
“When I saw the coach roll down Pall Mall at the royal wedding, the Queen set sail in her barge at the jubilee and, now, when I heard the news that William and Kate are to have a baby, I watched the republican case get weaker still. 
