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‘An exemplar of public leadership’: Paul Keating pays tribute
The former prime minister has released a tribute to the Queen. Keating incensed the British press when the Queen visited Australia and he touched her back to guide her along.
Keating says:
In the 20th century, the self became privatised, while the public realm, the realm of the public good, was broadly neglected.
Queen Elizabeth II understood this and instinctively attached herself to the public good against what she recognised as a tidal wave of private interest and private reward. And she did this for a lifetime. Never deviating.
She was an exemplar of public leadership, married for a lifetime to political restraint, remaining always, the constitutional monarch.
To the extent that an hereditary monarch can ever reflect the will or conscience of a people, in the case of Britain, Queen Elizabeth II assimilated a national consciousness reflecting every good instinct and custom the British people possessed and held to their heart.
In a seventy-year reign, she was required to meet literally hundreds of thousands of officials – presidents, prime ministers, ministers, premiers, mayors and municipal personalities.
It was more than one person should ever have been asked to do.
But Queen Elizabeth II’s stoicism and moralism welded her to the task and with it, the idea of monarchy.
Her exceptionally long, dedicated reign is unlikely to be repeated; not only in Britain, but in the world generally.
With her passing her example of public service remains with us as a lesson in dedication to a lifelong mission in what she saw as the value of what is both enduringly good and right.
Key events
NSW parliament suspended for one week
Tamsin Rose
New South Wales parliament will be adjourned for a week as a mark of respect following the Queen’s death on protocol advice from the federal government.
Members are being informed of the decision this afternoon.
With parliament due to sit next week, the premier, Dominic Perrottet, will move a motion to adjourn for one week.
Parliament will be meet again from September 20.
Natasha May
Wendy Fitzgerald and Sue Anderson were amongst those moved to tears at the Saint Andrews Service for the Queen.
Anderson had planned to come down from Newcastle to meet Fitzgerald at an exhibition in the city, but in light of this morning’s news changed their plans to first pay tribute to the Queen at St Andrews.
I’d heard that St. Andrews had a condolence book… when we went in there and it happened to coincide with a service and they played God save the Queen. We should be saying the king now.”
They said the service was attended by people of all walks of life and ages with a very sad mood pervading.
When they came outside they heard the bells tolled 96 times for the Queen’s age, and Anderson said “if they weren’t, if they weren’t stopped, they were walking very respectfully.”
The two women described the Queen as a “mother figure” but said they were not as optimistic about Charles taking over.
He has big shoes to fill,” Anderson said. “We all loved Dianna so much, I think that’s his problem, We loved Dianna.”
Anderson feels as though Australia is now “in limbo” when it comes to the relationship with the monarchy.
There’s every chance that we might become a republic, which I think is a shame because they’re only figureheads but for stability,” Anderson said.
Wendy Fitzgerald and Sue Anderson were amongst those moved to tears at the Saint Andrews Service for the Queen.
They have now come to the floral tribute at government house. pic.twitter.com/eghcSGHYGn
— Natasha May (@natasha__may) September 9, 2022
And to answer a question – no, no one else other than Victorian MPs have to swear allegiance to the new monarch.
When Parliament resumes, there is no requirement for parliamentarians to swear allegiance to the new Head of State, King Charles III, as their previous oaths or affirmations (as stipulated in the Constitution) are automatically carried over. Victoria is the only Australian jurisdiction where this is not the case, with its state Constitution requiring a new oath or affirmation before its parliamentarians can sit or vote.
Opening up a Australian Parliament website at the moment takes you to ‘obituary mode’ where the screen goes black and this message is shown:
In memoriam
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Thursday, 8 September 2022
Queen Elizabeth served the Commonwealth for 70 years. She had a deep affection for Australia and its people, visiting on many occasions to perform official functions, including opening Parliament House in 1988. The Parliament of Australia sends its deepest condolences to her family and will commemorate her life in coming days.
People are paying tribute to the Queen in their own ways
It might seem strange, but there have been a lot of queries about Australia’s currency, which features the Queen and whether it can still be used.
It can. It remains legal tender.
The RBA has a statement here about the $5 in particular:
The Reserve Bank of Australia wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family following news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
There will be no immediate change to Australian banknotes. The $5 banknotes featuring the image of Her Majesty The Queen can continue to be used. They will not be withdrawn and are likely to remain in circulation for years to come.
The reigning monarch has traditionally appeared on the lowest denomination of Australian banknote. The Reserve Bank will provide further updates in due course.
We reported a little bit earlier this morning that Treasury and the Mint have been working together on an effigy of King Charles for some time. But the first coins with the new monarch’s face are unlikely to be in circulation until 2023. Coins with the Queen’s face will remain in circulation and are legal tender.
Rounding those out:
Australian Physiotherapy Association:
We pay our respects to the decades of service she gave to the Commonwealth. We admire the grace and dignity with which she led her life of duty.”
Racing Victoria (For The Australian Racing Museum:
Racing Victoria extends its heartfelt condolences following the sad news of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. An avid racegoer, breeder and owner, Queen Elizabeth’s love of the horse and thoroughbred racing was an unmistakable characteristic of her reign.”
Australian Medical Association:
The AMA pays tribute to the long reign of Queen Elizabeth II and acknowledges the many intersections that the medical profession in Australia has with organisations enjoying royal patronage. The AMA acknowledges the Queen’s selfless service and expresses our condolences to her family.”
Those tributes continue:
Australian Red Cross:
Australian Red Cross pays tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on the occasion of her death. Her Majesty was a supporter of the work of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement across the world, including in Australia.”
Melbourne Children’s hospital:
We will always be proud of our long association with the Queen and send our sympathies to HRH King Charles and the royal family, and thank them for the special relationship the RCH was privileged to enjoy during Her Majesty’s reign.”
Melbourne’s Royal Women’s hospital:
The Women’s is a strong supporter of gender equity, so we are grateful for the Queen’s example of female leadership which was admired by many people.”
The Queen was a patron to 27 Australian organisations
AAP has pulled together some of those tributes:
RSL Australia:
She dedicated her life to the service of her nation and the peoples of the Commonwealth and never shirked this great responsibility. The RSL will be forever grateful for her commitment, encouragement and support for our veterans and service personnel.”
Scouts Australia:
Her outstanding example of service, encouragement and kindness was an inspiration to us all.”
Anglican Mothers Union Australia:
We will always remember her intelligence and humility in making wise decisions, her charm and sense of humour, and her sincere caring and gentleness.
Hers was a life born to serve God and all humanity and her legacy will live on in so many ways.”
Royal Melbourne hospital:
The Royal Melbourne hospital extends our deepest condolences to the royal family on the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen was a much-loved patron of the RMH since taking her reign in 1952.”
“It’s just like losing your grandmother,” Eric Third told Natasha May outside Government House in Sydney.
Protocols and ceremonies to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II
Over the next couple of days, there is more to come:
* A proclamation ceremony will be held at Parliament House in Canberra. This event is open to the public, subject to public health restrictions in force at the time.
* The governor general will read the proclamation on the forecourt of Parliament House and this will be followed by a 21-gun salute.
* In Australia, there will not be an official mourning period.
* Condolence books have been made available at Parliament House and Government House in Canberra. Books of condolence will also be open at Government Houses in each state. Online condolence forms have also been created on the websites of the governor general and Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The royal family have noted that instead of floral tributes, Australians may wish to consider making a donation to a charity of their choice.
And on flags and displays:
* The Australian national flag should be flown at half‑mast until after the day of the funeral in the UK. Direction will be provided to raise the flag for the proclamation.
* The sails of the Sydney Opera House will be illuminated until midnight on Friday and Saturday evening.
For those just tuning in, here is what is happening today
(via AAP)
Friday:
* The governor general announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II, following advice from Buckingham Palace.
* The prime minister issued a public statement on television and suspended parliament.
* A gun salute will take place at Parliament House in Canberra at dusk to mark the Queen’s death. It will consist of one round for each year of the Queen’s life at 10 second intervals.
* The governor general will address the nation at 6.55pm AEST.
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