The Chameleon CrownUsing previously secret government documents, The Chameleon Crown re-writes the history of Australia's relationship with the United Kingdom and the Crown. It makes clear that the Australian States remained colonial dependencies of the British Crown until 1986 when the Australia Act was passed. It was the 'Queen of the United Kingdom', not the 'Queen of Australia' who reigned over them. For many decades historians, lawyers and politicians believed that the British Government's role in advising the Queen on State matters was simply a formality and that the British merely provided the 'channel of communication' for State advice. This book reveals for the first time the true extent of the independent role played by the British Government in State affairs as well as the significant role of the Queen. The Chameleon Crown takes the reader behind the scenes into the confidential negotiations between the States, the Commonwealth, the British Government and Buckingham Palace on the termination of the colonial links between the States and the United Kingdom. This was a battle of high politics, played by the likes of Whitlam, Murphy, Bjelke-Petersen, Wran, Fraser, Hawke, in which the sovereignty of the States was at stake. It is essential reading for those interested in Australian politics, history and the monarchy. A NSW Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government publication. |
Contents
Federation and the Crown | 17 |
The appointment of Governors from Home | 25 |
4 | 31 |
The appointment of Australianborn Governors | 44 |
The removal of State Governors | 56 |
6 | 65 |
Governors and requests for advice | 72 |
7 | 80 |
Commonwealth attempts to abolish State appeals to | 130 |
The Queen of Queensland | 146 |
The aftermath of the Sir Colin Hannah affair | 161 |
Wrans NSW Liberation Plan | 175 |
The bid for freedom from the repugnancy fetter | 191 |
Direct access to the Queen | 237 |
Negotiations with the Palace | 246 |
The Australia Acts and the Queen of Australia | 258 |
Common terms and phrases
accept action advice advise the Queen agreed agreement amend appeals apply appointment argued assent Australia Acts Bill British Government British legislation British Ministers British officials Colonial Committee Common Commonwealth Government concerned concluded Conference considered constitutional continued convention Crown direct directly discussed draft effect election enact exercise federal Foreign Office formal further give given Governor Governor-General High Court House Imperial included independent interests involved issue later legislation Legislative Council letter Lord Majesty matters meeting ment noted November objected opinion Palace Parliament passed petition political position Premier prepared Prime Minister Privy Council proposed provisions Queensland question raised reasons received recommendation referred refused regarded rejected relation removal repeal request respect responsible role royal style Secretary Sir Colin sought South Wales Statute Style and Titles suggested Tasmania term terminate took United Kingdom validity wanted wealth Western Australia Whitlam wish