So....the Queen is coming to town....

[RhombusHatesYou]

Admittedly, the Prime Minister that we've got is a complete idiot, and seems apparently determined to destroy our country, but, for what it's worth, she was freely elected by the people of our nation.

And yet, somehow, she is better than the alternative....

How did this nations political state get to this? Seriously....

For the same reason every country's political system is shit to some degree - because people who want power are the last people that should be trusted with it.

Fact also is the so-called major parties and even the minor parties are lurching around with no fucking idea. No one gets involved with them to make a difference or work toward a better future for the country, they just want in on the gravy train that is public office. Look at how many of our 'representatives' are nothing more than party hacks who've never done anything except work for the party.

 

[Lizardon]

I'm glad she didn't curtsey, I think it's not a very dignified gesture. What she did was respectful and in no way insulting.

It's even less stupid to expect someone to bow to their boss. Because that's exactly what the Queen is.

If she says so, Julia loses her job. No questions asked.

So yeah, being polite is important.

Just a technicality but no the Queen can't fire Julia, that power is only held by the Governor General, who is approved by the Queen, who as far as I know has always said yes to whoever we've proposed. That is the extent of her involvement in Australia.

And I do think it's a bit silly to bow to ones boss. Bowing seems excessive, and it is an outdated practice.

 

[Miles000]

Not curtsying for the queen is, IMHO, a mark in Gillard's favor.

That I can agree with. At least it shows some backbone.
Anyone who bows to the queen, simply because she is the queen..... [extracted] (I'm not saying that here)

people who want power are the last people that should be trusted with it.

That's funny. I swear that is almost exactly what I keep telling everyone.

 

[ThyReaper]

To rub it in she should of said "How ya goin Lizzy, ya fossil." And bro-fisted her.

I hate the majority of people who comment on News websites, a bunch of cynical morons who put themselves on incredible high horses.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Just a technicality but no the Queen can't fire Julia, that power is only held by the Governor General, who is approved by the Queen, who as far as I know has always said yes to whoever we've proposed. That is the extent of her involvement in Australia.

And if the Queen dismissed an Australian PM for not curtsying, it'd be a massive shitstorm, and I don't think it'd jsut be Australia that started reconsidering becoming a republic.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

It's not stupid to expect a civilian of any type to bow to their monarch. Ever.

It's even less stupid to expect someone to bow to their boss. Because that's exactly what the Queen is.

If she says so, Julia loses her job. No questions asked.

Look, there's really no other way to say this but what the fuck are you on about?

Australia inherited the primacy of the parliament over the crown from the UK, which was established in England after having a boisterous civil war about it. It's even in history books, just look up 'English Civil War, the'. The Crown and it's representatives have effectively been rubber stamps for whatever Parliament wanted since then.

That goes without even mentioning all the legislative work in the 70s and 80s to remove all direct influence of any UK governance on Australia, including Liz II having any say in anything. We only keep her around because she's already on the money.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Just a technicality but no the Queen can't fire Julia, that power is only held by the Governor General, who is approved by the Queen, who as far as I know has always said yes to whoever we've proposed. That is the extent of her involvement in Australia.

Actually, the GG can't fire the PM except by request of Parliament... of course, to be honest, the GG can't do much more than take a shit except by request of Parliament. Glorified rubber stamp and dignitary greeter... fucking cush job.

 

[Angus King]

It is stupid to expect one nations leader to bow to another. Hell, why did the queen not bow to her? She was in her country after all.

yeeeahhhhhh except for the part where, while Australia is self governing, it's technically The Commonwealth of Australia, which has Queen Elizabeth II right at the top of the governmental structure.

 

[surg3n]

...Because England doesn't need the royal family to attract tourists...pfft!

What else is there in England to attract that all important tourism pound? - a big wheel, football, a filthy river or 8, street crime, growing unemployment...

If it wasn't for the royal family, there wouldn't be much of a reason to visit England, not with France so close by. Yeah, come to England, pay 3 times the tax you would anywhere else for anything else, come and sample the repugnant cuisine, the vapid music scene, then spend your evening avoiding being stabbed. England tourism would die without the royals, but I mean real tourism - like people who have money to spend, your grandparents maybe.

When the queen visits, it's the pantomime thats important - you guys think the queen was visiting Aus to talk business?, discuss global economy? - no, the queen does not deal with these things, we have politicians for that. Some people consider it a great honor to meet the queen, I guess that might be asking a bit much of the average Australian though - I never met an Australian that I didn't like, because I never met an Australian who didn't bring me beer!.

 

[Denariax]

I'm kind of hoping that people are smart enough to realize that Australia is not part of Britain, therefore the Australian side is well within their right to not have to bow.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

What else is there in England to attract that all important tourism pound? - a big wheel, football, a filthy river or 8, street crime, growing unemployment...

Have you considered giant fibreglass tourist traps? I've got the perfect idea for one at Cockfosters.

I never met an Australian that I didn't like, because I never met an Australian who didn't bring me beer!.

We're not allowed to give Liz II beer anymore... Not since Menzies got her shitfaced and she made a complete arse of herself.

 

[Lizardon]

anyway it seems people are having a fit over the priminister not curstsying at the queen..EVEN THOUGH as I understand she was fully aware of what was and wasnt aproprite, the custey being optional
and I do not fucking get it, I would understand mabye if the prime minister was somhow rude and didnt act apropritely...but this is just fucking stupid

People aren't outraged over that someone forgot it, they're pissed because Gillard ads to a long tradition of republicans disrespecting everything and everyone that doesn't fit into their views.

It's that this is a typical example of republican respectlessness, is why people are angry about it.

If Gillard didn't want to have to greet the head of a ceremonial monarchy, among other duties, she shouldn't have signed up for the job. Right now the Dutch PM is meeting Putin and Medvedev. His views on the Russian semi-dictator Putin are clear, he strongly disapproves of it. Do you think he really wants to meet Putin? Of course not. Still, he does his job as leader of the trade delegation, goes through all the official stuff, etc etc.

Which is why it didn't cause a stir that Rutte had scheduled meetings with human rights activists before meeting Putin. That's how diplomacy works.

I don't understand how it was disrespectful. She wasn't mocking the traditional or anything, she simply decided, as I've told is allowed, to not curtsey, but instead perform a more dignified (for her) greeting. A lot of women who've been meeting the Queen haven't, they've bowed their heads instead which I think is a perfectly valid way to pay respect and greet the Queen. It's what most men do as well. No one in this day and age is going to do a full bow or curtsey to anyone. It's an outdated practice.

Anyway, the Queen already knew we Aussies were much more relaxed when it came to trivial formalities.

For those who don't know that's Paul Keating, Prime minister from 1991 to 1996, with his arm around the Queen

Just a technicality but no the Queen can't fire Julia, that power is only held by the Governor General, who is approved by the Queen, who as far as I know has always said yes to whoever we've proposed. That is the extent of her involvement in Australia.

And if the Queen dismissed an Australian PM for not curtsying, it'd be a massive shitstorm, and I don't think it'd jsut be Australia that started reconsidering becoming a republic.

Ummmm I said the Queen can't dismiss an Australian PM, regardless of whether or not they curtsied.

 

[Abedeus]

The Queen isn't the same without Freddie Mercury...

 

[Sean Steele]

Why would the Queen deserve respect? The entire monarchy is a bunch of people living on state funded excess and nothing more.

 

[PlowmanMk]

I don't believe they have to curtsy. I think they can shake hands and bow to the queen - which is what Gillard did.
Anyway, I'm pretty sure the Queen doesn't actually care.

 

[SwagLordYoloson]

anywya no systm is perfect, but its better than other systms (especially medievil monarchy)

No offence, but I do have to clarify the Difference between a Feudal Monarchy ('medieval monarchy') and a Constitutional Monarchy (British Government). They are completely different structures of government, Feudal being lead by a Despotic Leader having true authority over their domain by allowing Barons and Lords to rule their fiefs, and a Constitutional Monarchy being a government in which a Parliament decides the countries direction and rules over them, with a Monarchy forming an Auxiliary Power Role or being refined to a 'Figure Head' Role.

Just a Technicality that you snagged on.

OT: The queen deserves as much respect as Dole Bludgers. Those who take money from the government to live, those who can't afford to feed themselves. Hardly people fit to run a country.

 

[Guffe]

I live in Finland, I wouldn't know

I hope you guys fix the situation over there and start caring about mroe important stuff (I just got the feeling that some of you guys are focusing on the wrong side of things).

 

[oktalist]

anyway it seems people are having a fit over the priminister not curstsying at the queen..EVEN THOUGH as I understand she was fully aware of what was and wasnt aproprite, the custey being optional

Women curtsy, men bow. Though I do think it is unnecessary.

the reason this annoys me so much is I actually do not understnad the relvence of the monarchy

Agreement from the UK here.

but again, a bunch of twats start coming out with nonsense like "embarsed Australia" and "disrespectful" its really grinds my gears...

I didn't even know she was over there. No embarrassment possible if it hasn't been picked up on in the rest of the Commonwealth.

 

[Guffe]

...Because England doesn't need the royal family to attract tourists...pfft!

What else is there in England to attract that all important tourism pound?

football,

You just answered your own question!

pay 3 times the tax you would anywhere else for anything else

You've never been to Finland have you...

your grandparents maybe.

Yes they do watch football, as much as anyone else in Finland, and not just my grandparents.

Some people consider it a great honor to meet the queen,

I certainly would, I actually believemost people would...

because I never met an Australian who didn't bring me beer!.

Got to go, must befriend some australians...


Sorry if I seem a bit harsh here but really?
Englands great! I've been there several times and the only thing really that costs more (of daily stuff) is tobacco (I don't smoke, friends do) and the fines you get are a lot higher than here.
I wouldn't know about houses/cars etc but it can't be worse than up here mate.
(also take my post lightly and not too seriously. cheers!)