The queen is dead. Long live a republic

Your Say lets readers tell Crikey what they think about the stories we’ve published. Today the suggestion the RIP to Queen Elizabeth II means an RIP to a republic didn’t ring true for you.

On does a dream die with the queen?

Michael Gormly writes: I sincerely hope Guy Rundle’s pessimism about an Australian republic is misplaced. He seems to say the queen is dead, long live King Charles — so abandon hope all ye republicans. I’m counting on other factors. Fact is, Charles is far less charismatic and attractive than his mother. Fact is, he hasn’t been our head of state for 70 years, and some discontinuity is unavoidable. I hope Australians have enough self-respect to aspire to the status of other decolonised countries like Barbados.

Our last referendum on a republic was lost on the shoals of too much complexity and lies from the monarchists — polling booths displayed huge, expensive, plastic banners screaming: “Don’t give the politicians more power!!” I hope that in today’s world of social media, such rubbish can be better aired and mocked. With the federal opposition on its knees, I think republicans can beat the monarchists and appeal to a positive nationalism set against, perhaps, the breakup of the United Kingdom. I hope next time we can fashion a better case for basic national self-respect than an anachronistic pandering to a foreign family and its hereditary succession.

Neville Goss writes: Questions of a republic have nothing to do with monarchy. It does not depend on a failed or tired monarchy. I wish King Charles III all the best. May his reign and the UK prosper. We need strong allies. But the republic is about Australian leadership and identity in a present and future world. Clearly there has been none in the past decade. Will there be in the next decade? If there is, the republic agenda will be front and centre.

James B Bruce writes: The tragic passing of the queen, while sad, was inevitable. The time for a plebiscite would be before Charles’ investiture as King Charles III, probably in a year’s time. The Labor government has the right and a duty to the Australian public to hold a referendum on a republic. We may not be in the Commonwealth Games when we become a republic, but we are a proud melting pot of races and we are one as a nation.

Ross Stagg writes: Normally I quite like the writing quality in Crikey — it generally flows nicely – but I found the writing style in this piece virtually impenetrable. Its whole point seems to say that politics will stop the republican movement from ever achieving a referendum. I call bullshit on that. Ita Buttrose said it best on the ABC TV coverage when she opined that the reason the queen visited our country 16 times was because of the near rockstar welcome she received — made possible by Frank Packer and his cynical promotion in The Australian Women’s Weekly. The queen on the cover sold copies. That realisation of the queen and the royal firm as “product” hit me in the guts and made me realise what a turgid, manipulated little country we have been. Where can I donate to the republican cause?

Roy Ramage writes: In the late ’50s and early ’60s I was a fledgling sea cadet in Darwin. One day our leaders informed us that a duke would inspect us and we were to wear our long flannels with the seven creases, square rig and assemble on the wharf. We dutifully did so in the mid-afternoon Darwin heat. Yes, you guessed it. The royal retinue was late and we stood, melting, waiting for over an hour. Our captain eventually said it was coming and we all snapped to attention and presented arms. The royal carriage sailed past and the duke waved. I would rather have been swimming.

Peter Annand writes: Am I the only one who was shocked and appalled that the Australian Parliament has closed down for two weeks because the queen died?

Colin Fitzpatrick writes: As a staunch republican I feel the death of the queen is not a time to capitalise by pushing our aims and ideals. For the moment, out of respect, we should let things lie. We should let Charles get his feet under the table (throne) and further down the track bring forth, in a respectful and positive manner, a republic’s goals and ideals. I am confident that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is smart and savvy enough to not want to rush in and create unnecessary ill feelings. We will become a republic (or vote on one) under his watch but at a suitable and respectful time.

Ruth Livingstone writes: I have never been in favour of monarchy and am bewildered that we are not a republic. I can’t believe the outpouring of guff, the ABC suspending much of its normal programs, columns and columns of media — including Crikey — devoted to her death. I am not interested and never have been in the doings of British or any other royalty, any more than I am interested in movie stars or other “entertainers”. I don’t care, and I am stunned at how much time and effort is being devoted to it. Get over it.

Peter Skinner writes: Queen Elizabeth II was a presence in my family. She shared my father’s birthday but was one year younger. My young son shook her hand on a royal walkabout in Launceston in 1988. But I found Friday remarkable — not because of the death of the monarch, or for the remarkable life she led, but because of the bizarre way in which Australia gained its new head of state. The Australian republican movement is carefully debating whether appointment by Parliament, direct election by the Australian people, or a hybrid system of political shortlisting followed by popular election would be the best way to select the most appropriate person to oversee the conduct of our democracy. All wrong. We just needed to wait until an Englishman’s mother died.

Graeme Roberts writes: I’m all for sentimentality but in the 21st century, do we really have no choice but to suspend our Parliament? It’s time guys. We need autonomy to decide for ourselves.

Colin McCormac writes: The biggest problem with a republic is that no matter who you vote for a politician gets elected. With a monarchy you can use them on ceremonial occasions and ignore them the rest of the time.

If something in Crikey has pleased, annoyed or inspired you, let us know by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.