Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Hanson, Fawcett, Bushby, Bernardi, Fifield, Fierravanti-Wells, Ryan, Macdonald, Back, Nash, Williams, Scullion, Canavan, Ruston, McKenzie, Duniam, Cormann, Paterson, McGrath, Hume, Seselja, Cash, Sinodinos, Burston, Brandis and Roberts, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

  (i) that 6 February 2017 marked 65 years since Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne,

  (ii) the important and enduring role that Her Majesty has played, and continues to play, in Australia's remarkable democratic and constitutional stability during the years of her reign, and

  (iii) that Her Majesty has remained faithful to her vow made in 1947 – "I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service."; and

(b) extends to Her Majesty its continuing appreciation for the gracious manner in which she continues to fulfil her duties as Queen of Australia.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Unlike the parties that brought back knights and dames, the Greens are very proud republicans. We do support an Australian head of state, just as the Prime Minister and opposition leader say they do. And we do hope that the people of the United Kingdom celebrated the Queen's Sapphire Jubilee last Monday. We hope they had a great time. Good luck to the Queen. We wish her well.

Our opposition is not to the Queen; our opposition to this motion is because we do not support having a foreign head of state, which this motion supports. Indeed, the motion attributes 'Australia's remarkable democratic and constitutional stability' to the Queen. Well, the last time I checked, Australia's most serious constitutional crisis, the dismissal, saw the Queen's representative, the Governor-General, dismiss a sitting Prime Minister. Australia's stability is due to its democratic institutions that underpin our nation. May that long continue with an Australian head of state and a flag to call our own.

Question agreed to.