# Monarchistic Australia **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 24, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525 "2011-04-24T01:20:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/21 "2011-04-26T01:42:03Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > That’d be me. I’m a Monarchist. > > Some of the reasons for me (just to answer the next question) are a combination of “History & Tradition” along with “I think having an impartial and neutral Figurehead of State is an eminently sensible idea that ensures stability in Government” (basically what **Attack From The 3rd Dimension** said). I’m a monarchist if I can be bothered, otherwise _yawn_ whatever. I agree with the whole separation of Head of Government and Head of State; the amount of adulation given the Office of the president of the USA is worrisome. It’s cleaner to separate the politician from the symbolism. I’ll note that the Queen acts in her Canadian parliamentary duties as the Queen of Canada, not the Queen of the UK. The offices of the Crowns of the different Commonwealth Realms are theoretically separate, even though they are held by the same person. When the Queen presided over the opening of the [St Lawrence Seaway](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lawrence_Seaway). she did so as the Queen of Canada. Canada has been slowly ‘Canadianizing’ various symbolic things. A lot of this happened during and after the 1960s, with things like the change from Royal Mail to Canada Post, and from Dominion Day to Canada Day. There is now a Canadian [style of heraldry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_heraldry), for example. We are slowly combining our settler and immigrant roots with our native roots, and coming up with something new. If we are to maintain the monarchy in Canada, I say we should Canadianize it all the way. The Globe and Mail suggested having the members of the Order of Canada elect the Governeor General as a formal Head of State, severing the last connection to the UK. That’s a thought. But we could go further: we start off with a Duke of Toronto and a _comté de Montréal_ and a [一等伯](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_nobility) of Vancouver and a Grand Chief of Manitoba! Out of all the names and titles from all the nations that have contributed to Canada, let something unique emerge, something born in this land. Perhaps Australia is following a similar route? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/22 "2011-04-26T01:57:56Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > But we could go further: we start off with a Duke of Toronto… Are you forgetting the Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal? From [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_Strathcona_and_Mount_Royal): > [@](#): > > Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, of Mount Royal in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada and of Glencoe in the County of Argyll, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom… > > As of 2010, the title is held by the latter’s son, the fourth Baron, who succeeded in 1959. If we do get a Duke of Toronto though, I’d like to submit an application for, oh, say, Duke of Southern Alberta. Nice addition to the resume and all that; and of course, I will rule fairly and reasonably. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/23 "2011-04-26T04:40:10Z")
> [@boomerwang](#): > > I find it a little strange that Australia still has the Union Jack on the flag, and the British queen’s head on the coins. I’m not totally bent out of shape about it, but I just wonder what would be so bad about moving on from these antiquated things. While I remember, at least four British Colonies/Dependencies/Dominions still have the Union Jack on their flag- New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Tuvalu. The list gets longer when you start including all the States of Australia (but not the ACT or Northern Territory), the Canadian provinces that still use it (Three of them including British Colombia, IIRC), the various remaining British [del]Colonies[/del] Overseas Territories, the Cook Islands, and several other places (right down to city level) in what was once the British Empire that have incorporated the Union Jack into their flag somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/24 "2011-04-26T11:08:57Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Are you forgetting the Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal? From [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_Strathcona_and_Mount_Royal): > > If we do get a Duke of Toronto though, I’d like to submit an application for, oh, say, Duke of Southern Alberta. Nice addition to the resume and all that; and of course, I will rule fairly and reasonably. 😃 I call dibs on ‘Duke of Newfoundland’. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/25 "2011-04-26T12:05:53Z")
I should mention that I was referring to _former_ British Colonies/Dependencies etc when mentioning Australia/NZ et al… Another excellent reason not to be trying to do three things at once when you want to appear knowledgeable about something. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/26 "2011-04-26T12:43:53Z")
I prefer having the royals to having a president. Which makes me an Australian monarchist, I suppose. For similar reasons to those already mentioned in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/27 "2011-04-26T14:37:27Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > If we do get a Duke of Toronto though, I’d like to submit an application for, oh, say, Duke of Southern Alberta. Nice addition to the resume and all that; and of course, I will rule fairly and reasonably. 😃 “You know why they call it a throne? 'Cause if you go near it, you get _throne_ in the dungeon!” ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/28 "2011-04-26T22:58:48Z")
I don’t really care either way, but I can’t see any real change if we did go republican so why bother? The one thing I wanted to mention with regards to the flag, is any time a change is mentioned, you will invariably get a massive hue and cry from the RSL (returned serviceman’s league). Who take a stance of “This is the flag our diggers fought and died under so it can’t be changed” ---
**Author:** ![chicken\_wire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@chicken\_wire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicken_wire)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/29 "2011-04-27T03:29:38Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > I prefer having the royals to having a president. Which makes me an Australian monarchist, I suppose. For similar reasons to those already mentioned in this thread. Yep, we get along fine without a president, and our governors and governors general seem to be more than adequate for cutting ribbons, visiting disaster areas, and sacking the occasional Prime Minister. We have to re-tool Lizzy Windsor’s head on the coins every 20 years or so. If we had presidents there would be a lot more coin work for the mint to do, which would have to cost us. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/30 "2011-04-27T03:36:15Z")
> [@chicken\_wire](#): > > We have to re-tool Lizzy Windsor’s head on the coins every 20 years or so. If we had presidents there would be a lot more coin work for the mint to do, which would have to cost us. Yeah, but you make up for it by having those plastic banknotes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/31 "2011-04-27T04:10:08Z")
> [@chicken\_wire](#): > > Yep, we get along fine without a president, and our governors and governors general seem to be more than adequate for cutting ribbons, visiting disaster areas, and sacking the occasional Prime Minister. We have to re-tool Lizzy Windsor’s head on the coins every 20 years or so. If we had presidents there would be a lot more coin work for the mint to do, which would have to cost us. We’d have to retool the coinage, true, but we’d probably do what other western democracies do and use famous dead people for the “heads” side, not living people. And while new coins do have the aged Lizzie, coins from the 60s/70s are still very common and still legal. I just checked my pocket change and found a 1966 5c and a 1968 20c. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/32 "2011-04-27T04:28:28Z")
Are the pre-decimal coins that have decimal equivalents still legal tender in Australia? ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/33 "2011-04-27T05:49:23Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > Are the pre-decimal coins that have decimal equivalents still legal tender in Australia? No. There was only a brief period ( a couple of months, I believe) where both coinages were in circulation. I think the Brits kept their pre-decimal coinage in circulation a lot longer, years for some coins. After they were withdrawn from circulation, you could exchange old for new at banks: not sure if that’s still possible, it’s been 45 years since decimalisation and pre-dec coins are worth more than face value to collectors now. Not a lot more, in general, but enough so that you’d sell to coin shops rather than exchange at the bank. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/34 "2011-04-27T06:06:51Z")
Hmmm, pre-dec notes (and possibly coins too) **are** [still legal tender](http://www.rba.gov.au/banknotes/legal-framework/redemption.html) and can be exchanged at the RBA. All banks will exchange the old paper decimal notes for newer polymer ones, I believe. The paper notes are still accepted as currency, but they’re very rare. Aus copper coins (1c & 2c) were withdrawn in 1992 but can still be exchanged, though they’re worth slightly more as copper scrap. I believe it’s technically illegal to sell them for scrap, though. I tried to sell a paper $5 note for more than $5 once, but failed. I still have it, somewhere, I think. I have plenty of 1c and 2c coins. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/35 "2011-04-27T14:11:16Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > That is a problem. You can’t use an emu, 'cause no one knows how to pronounce it. Is it ee-myu or em-you or ee-moo or whatever. Then if you use a emu, the cassowary will get all mad. And Cass is one bird you don’t want to get hacked off at you. Cass has a 'tude, like you won’t believe. Australia already has a perfectly good flag. It’s on the current flag. Just take off the Union Jack, re-center the constellation design, there you go. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/36 "2011-04-27T14:24:19Z")
I’ve never heard a really good argument against constitutional monarchy on the Commonwealth model. The monarch simply can’t _do_ anything harmful, and the attempt would end the monarchy. So why would anyone even care? ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/37 "2011-04-27T14:42:51Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > Hmmm, pre-dec notes (and possibly coins too) **are** [still legal tender](http://www.rba.gov.au/banknotes/legal-framework/redemption.html) and can be exchanged at the RBA. According to the [Royal Australian Mint](http://www.ramint.gov.au/faq/), the [Holey Dollar and the Dump](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holey_dollar)are the only Australian coins which have had their ‘legal tender’ status removed, or been ‘demonetised’. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/38 "2011-04-27T15:29:01Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > While I remember, at least four British Colonies/Dependencies/Dominions still have the Union Jack on their flag- New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Tuvalu. The list gets longer when you start including all the States of Australia (but not the ACT or Northern Territory), the Canadian provinces that still use it (Three of them including British Colombia, IIRC), the various remaining British [del]Colonies[/del] Overseas Territories, the Cook Islands, and several other places (right down to city level) in what was once the British Empire that have incorporated the Union Jack into their flag somewhere. Don’t forget Hawaii. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/39 "2011-04-27T17:23:29Z")
I’ve heard that some Australians think The Queen’s a good Sheila, and not at all stuck up. But that could just be the Philosophy Department of the University of Woolamaloo. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525/40 "2011-04-27T17:49:06Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > But that could just be the Philosophy Department of the University of Woolamaloo. Spelling nitpick: [Woolloomooloo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolloomooloo,_New_South_Wales) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monarchistic-australia/579525.md?page=3)