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All the Queen’s Man

The Queen's tour of Australia was meant to be John Howard's way of giving the bird to the Australian (re)public. He's a shoe-in for this week's Tool of the Week.

It was a Monarchist's wet dream - the defender of the realm gets to deliver Australia back to his monarch after slaying the Republican infidel.

It was all planned out to perfection - the trip through the regions, where support is deemed the highest, steering clear of the republican strongholds of Sydney and Melbourne.

But wait, something's wrong - the Queen starts talking about the sort of issues that make Johnnie uncomfortable and decidedly unrelaxed- like reconciliation and multiculturalism.

She starts sounding more like that mad, modern G-G of her's, Wild Billy Dean, than the Menzian fairy princess frozen in the 1950s who Howard fought so passionately for.

It's true. In her visit, the Queen has shown the sort of heart that Howard has never been able to muster from the cavern where there should be a soul.

Freed of protocol you could imagine her making the formal apology that Howard says isn't necessary -- just like the Pope has done recently on behalf of the Catholic Church for everything from the Crusades to its silence during the Holocaust.

While Howard has spent much of the week one step behind HRH, in attitudes, outlook and downright class, he's light-years behind.

It's been that sort of weird, surreal visit - a conservative figure preaching progressive values - raising challenging issues for Monarchist and Republican alike by failing to fit stereotype..

In embarrassing Howard this week, the Queen has clearly illustrated why we need a meaningful symbol.

While , Howard might not like her message, this has raised just as many headaches for the Republican cause.

The Queen's consummate states-womanship has placed the onus clearly on Republicans to give shape to the sort of national symbol which they propose should replace the monarchy.

It's a factor that should feed into the ongoing debate between the Minimalist republicans and the Direct Electionists . Do we want our head of state exercising power, like the US President, or exercising influence through moral authority, like the Queen.

Rather than trashing the Queen personally, Republicans need to focus on what value she fills as our head of State - and her performance this week provides ample material to work with.

One thing's for sure, it's going to take more than a bunch of long-winded over-achievers talking about apron strings to carry that argument.

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  Issue 47 contents

»	Insurance Deal Guarantees Entitlements
»	Casual Work Inquiry Moves Closer
»	Questions Over National Push for 36 Hours Week
»	WA Govt Pulls Plug on Unionists
»	A Fair Day’s Surf
»	Hotel Workers Jam AIRC
»	PM's Security Guards Walk off the Job
»	SOCOG Dances: Budget Not There
»	Women Win Right To Wear Trousers
»	Another Rustbucket On Our Coast
»	Catholic School Teachers Endorse Strike Action
»	We Can't Share the Spirit If We Can’t Afford the Rent
»	Unionist Honoured Posthumously
»	Radio Free East Timor

»	The Soapbox
»	The Locker Room
»	Trades Hall
»	Tool Shed

»	Carr's Parisian Lunchmate
»	Send Us a Letter

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