House debates

Thursday, 10 September 2015

Statements by Members

Queen Elizabeth II

1:42 pm

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Yesterday marked a special day in our history when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II became the longest-serving sovereign, surpassing the 63 year, seven months and two-day reign of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. It was therefore a great pleasure for me to be present at the national ecumenical service at St Paul's Manuka this morning to recognise this occasion. The welcome was given by my colleague Senator Dean Smith, who was largely responsible for organising this memorable service, which was full of glorious music.

Marking this milestone allows us the opportunity to appreciate the constitutional system that we have in place in Australia, which has served our country and people so well over 114 years. To those who desire a republic, I still ask the same questions: what is the nature of the republic you propose? And how will it benefit the people of Australia? I am still awaiting an answer to both of those questions. We hear the cry that Republicans want an Australian head of state. Well, there is no doubt that our head of state is our Governor-General. Her Majesty is our titular head, which means our head of state is appointed in an apolitical way. It simply remains to say on this occasion that our Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Peter Cosgrove, is clearly an Australian and does an outstanding job of head of state, ably assisted by Her Excellency Lady Cosgrove.