Yet, Britannia Rules

FOR 23-year-old David Lutz, links with the Queen of England are irrelevant. "I remember in primary school," he was quoted in The Melbourne Age as saying, "I had to sing God Save the Queen , and I thought it was quite silly back then, and I still do now." Like many other Australians, he feels it's time to cut the umbilical cord with the British monarchy. The recently ousted prime minister, Paul Keating, a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, believed that Australia's growing relations in the Asia-Pacific region hinged partly on the redefinition of its own identity. The Labor Party, encouraged by public opinion, was committed to creating a republic before the 100th anniversary of the nation's founding in 2001.

Although Queen Elizabeth II's profile decorates every coin in the country, her significance as constitutional head of state has diminished over the years. The monarchy is represented by the governor-general of Australia (an Australian citizen whose presence is largely ceremonial). As the Queen's representative, he can dissolve Parliament and appoint the leader of the opposition to form a government. This happened in 1975 when Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam was sacked and Liberal Malcolm Fraser was installed by John Kerr, the then governor-general.

Australia has come a long way from being a dumping ground for petty criminals from the British Isles between 1788 and 1868. When the first settlers came here, they built terraced red-brick homes with dark interiors for the workers, and Georgian mansions with stained glass windows to remind themselves of their elite status. But look behind the wooden doors and you find the interiors transformed. Australia never did resemble its mother country, but the question, what exactly constitutes its identity, is never far from the minds of its countrymen.

The issue was brought out forcefully on January 26, referred to as Australia Day and observed as a public holiday. Australia's radio talk shows were jammed with callers wanting to discuss what the day meant to them personally. Historically, January 26, 1788, was the day Captain Arthur Phillip raised the Union Jack at Sydney Cove, symbolising the colonisation of the land. Some callers questioned the choice of date which has a significantly different meaning for the original inhabitants of this continent, the aborigines. For them, this was the day when the English began to steal the land which, until then, had been theirs.

For the aborigines, the land has a spiritual significance that goes beyond territorial boundaries and the controversy over the Queen. They believe they belong to the land. Now an ethnic minority, they have made their mark on modern Australian society mainly through their art—both visual and performing. But many are still 'fringe dwellers'.

Some believe a new identity for Australia means having a new flag. A new design has even been offered by Australian artist Ken Done, and promoted by the lobby group, Ausflag. The flag, with the Southern Cross, comes in three colour schemes: blue and white (as in the present flag), green and gold (the nation's sporting colours), and the artist's favourite, blue and gold.

Public reaction to the display has been varied. Some have accused the artist of committing treason, forgetting his roots, while others complain the design is not good enough. Unlike countries which have tried to retain their connections with the past, Australians tried to wipe clear the convict 'stain'. But lately, a convict past has become the height of chic.

However, Prime Minister John Howard is a confirmed monarchist, and some believe that the movement for a republic will die with the coalition. At his swearing-in ceremony, Howard swore allegiance to the Australian people first, and followed that by swearing allegiance to the Queen. Keating's government had removed the reference to the Queen and her family three years ago, and the executive officer of the Australian Republican Movement, Chris Carson, was not pleased by the restoration of the Queen to the oath: "It's a shame. It's the sovereignty of the Australian people that Howard should be concerned about, not the Queen." But Carson added that as a devout monarchist, it went to Howard's credit that he did not swear to the Queen's heirs and successors as well. Thomas Keneally, founder-member of the Australian Republican Movement, says the need for change is too widespread to be avoided by any government: "Howard has a lot of Republicans in his own ranks, and he has a huge number of people who believe it is inevitable."

The new prime minister is committed to holding a People's Convention next year to discuss constitutional changes, with half its members nominated by the government. The Republican movement has accepted that Howard will proceed slowly and cautiously. And while the republic may not get top priority with the new government, the recent shenanigans of the House of Windsor have confirmed the opinion of many Australians that the present position can only bring diminishing returns.