Fight for Democratic Rights Boosted
Quentin Bryce the Governor-General of Australia has spoken in favour of that country becoming a republic. While giving a lecture in Sydney Ms. Bryce said she hoped that “one day one young girl or boy may even grow up to be our nation’s first head of state.”
A Commonwealth governor-general is considered the to be the representative of British queen Windsor. They perform ceremonial duties and have the duties of a head of state, including the right to dismiss the prime minister in certain circumstance. In practice the governor-general is expected to act the advice of the government..
Ms. Bryce is a highly regarded lawyer and former governor of Queensland. She has been a popular governor-general. Bryce was appointed by the former prime minister, the republican Kevin Rudd. The current British-born Prime Minister is a opponent of republican government.
The comments are likely to give a boost to the campaign to replace monarchy in Australia with a fair and democratic institution. Australian news media reported that the remarks were warmly received on social media. But Phillip Benwell for the Australian Monarchist League said it was a “disgrace” for Ms. Bryce to speak out for the right of Australians to become head of state in Australia. The Greens expressed support for the Ms. Bryce’s views but the prime minister and leader of the opposition were reported to have declined to give support to her hope for a republic.