The Queen, Mabo and the impending culture war
The culture war over a republic has officially been reignited, with monarchists today hitting back at Labor’s decision to appoint an assistant minister for the republic, just as Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee begins. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton took a shot at Deputy PM Richard Marles on The Today Show this morning. “For Richard to give her praise and then elbow her off the stage – that is rough,” Dutton said. (Marles had said today was not the day to talk about a republic, and paid tribute to the monarch.) Nationals MP Michelle Landry has also made her displeasure known, suggesting that Labor wanted to change Australia’s “way of life”, noting our Westminster system is based on “the British model of responsible government”. (That doesn’t particularly gel with some of the parliamentary behaviour she has previously defended.) The timing of Matt Thistlethwaite’s appointment is slightly awkward for those in the government wanting to show respect to the 96-year-old as she celebrates 70 years on the throne, although there are no plans for a split anytime soon. But there is likely no timing that would have pleased the Australian Monarchist League, with chair Philip Benwell complaining this morning about the “undemocratic” appointment – a curious description, as journalist Max Opray noted, for a move to end the divine right to rule.
With all that in mind, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had an interesting line to walk last night at a jubilee celebration in Canberra, having just appointed a monarchy removalist. But he did it with grace, paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II as a “rare constant”, while asserting Labor’s republican agenda and acknowledging that the relationship between the nations had changed. (Or, as News Corp’s youth outlet The Oz put it, “our ‘meh’ Jubilee message”.) “No longer parent and young upstart, we stand as equals,” Albanese said. “More importantly, we stand as friends.” Even while asserting his government’s desire for independence, he still somehow managed to be more respectful and personal than certain Liberal MPs, who posted cookie-cutter tributes on Twitter. Albanese also used the moment to commit to advancing reconciliation with First Nations peoples, a far higher priority than a republic for this government, as Thistlethwaite has explained, and a far more important tribute considering that today is also Mabo Day, and the 30th anniversary of the Mabo decision.
The intersection of the anniversary of the decision that overturned terra nullius and the Queen’s jubilee is another awkward one. Many people have in the past expressed discomfort when more attention is placed on celebrating the British monarch than on the profound moment that overturned the lie at the heart of our nation (one inherently tied up in the British monarchy). But there was no shortage of tributes to Eddie Mabo and his High Court victory today. (There were also many tributes to former chief justice Sir Gerard Brennan, who wrote the lead judgement in the case, and who died yesterday.) Greens senator Lidia Thorpe tweeted some of Mabo’s other achievements, including founding the Townsville Aboriginal legal service and demanding service at venues where First Nations people were banned, while country singer Troy Cassar-Daley added: “Mabo is a constant reminder that connection to country is real.” Michael Lavarch, the attorney-general in the Keating Labor government, writes that Labor didn’t go far enough in its support back then, arguing that the Uluru Statement from the Heart campaign can draw inspiration from Mabo. The ABC, meanwhile, reports that a group of Ngunnawal traditional owners have used the 30th anniversary to announce their intention to lodge a native title claim over the entire ACT and parts of NSW.
Becoming a republic has, for some time now, been seen as the less-urgent element of Australia’s journey towards reconciliation, with Labor repeatedly confirming that a voice to parliament is the priority. But that won’t stop conservatives from launching a rabid, pre-emptive defence of the Queen, warning that ditching the monarchy would tear apart the threads of the nation. Today’s anniversary – of the Mabo decision, not QEII’s reign – is a clear reminder of the importance of tearing certain threads apart.
Listen to The Politics Podcast, with Rachel Withers
GOOD OPINION
Weight-bearing status
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“I felt the moment, the weight of that moment.”
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Industry Minister Ed Husic says he feels the weight of becoming one of Australia’s first Muslim ministers, alongside Minister for Early Childhood Education and Youth Anne Aly, who expresses hope for a “new era” of inclusivity.
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BAD OPINION
Peter principle
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“This is nothing to do with renewables.”
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Liberal leader Peter Dutton denies the energy crisis has anything to do with a lack of renewable energy, arguing that the public will get sick of Labor blaming the old government. Those states with higher renewables uptake – the ACT and SA – have been largely shielded from rising prices.
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7am Podcast
Why Albanese is demanding discipline
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As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attempts to set the agenda and tone of the next parliament, Labor’s challenges are crystallising. Climate policy is shaping up as a key battleground, with Labor confronted by a Greens-dominated Senate, and an Opposition that won’t back Labor’s targets. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper Paul Bongiorno on Albanese’s agenda, and why he’s demanding discipline from the Labor party room.
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The average amount by which households in Labor electorates now out-earn those in Coalition ones – a major shift that may help explain changes in rhetoric and policy.
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THE policy
Labor backs minimum wage rise
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Labor has made its submission to the Fair Work Commission calling for an increase to the minimum wage, with a specific reference to the 5.1 per cent inflation figure. Setting out the government’s position that wages shouldn’t “go backwards”, Employment Minister Tony Burke noted that, if adopted, such a rise would also help reduce the gender pay gap
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