Australian government pressured to cut ties with Britain

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Australian government pressured to cut ties with Britain
Associated Press
By ROD McGUIRK
12 hours ago

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian government came under mounting pressure on Australia's national day on Tuesday to appoint an Australian head of state to replace the British monarch.

Every Australia Day, an eminent Australian citizen is made Australian of the Year in recognition of his or her contribution to Australian society.

The 2016 Australian of the Year, former Chief of Army David Morrison, said in his acceptance speech on Monday night that he intended to use his new public profile to campaign for Australia severing its constitutional ties to Britain.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is also Queen of Australia. A referendum that would have replaced her with an Australian head of state was soundly defeated in 1999, with the then Prime Minister John Howard campaigning against change.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/australian-government-pressured-cut-ties-britain-005233607.html

[geek tragedy]

1. As someone born and raised in the USA, the whole thing where Canada and Australia bow

to an overseas queen really puzzles me.

[Calista241]

2. That's a misleading headline IMO.

Severing ties with Britain is WAY different than not acknowledging the monarchy.

[T_i_B]

8. Yes, misleading headline

Also worth remembering that Australia had a referendum on becoming a republic in 1999

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_republic_referendum,_1999

[MisterP]

3. Canada doesn't do this: Canada doesn't have an inferiority complex

[NobodyHere]

6. Then how do you explain this?

[Nye Bevan]

4. I think it's quite charming that Queen Elizabeth is also the head of state of Canada and Australia.

Of course it's up to the people of those countries to decide, but apparently support for a Australia being a republic is at its lowest level in 3 decades.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/republican-cause-takes-heavy-knock-in-poll-20140201-31u1a.html

[Zorra]

5. Go Australia! Just do it.

[Nye Bevan]

7. Did you know Rolf Harris is in prison?

Apparently he played his didgeridoo in A minor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolf_Harris#Arrest_and_trial