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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-03-15 Daily Xml
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QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (12:54): It is with pleasure that I move:

That this house extends its appreciation to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and acknowledges our indebtedness to our sovereign, as Queen of Australia, for her 60 years of service to our country and the state of South Australia.

This year heralds the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Members will also be aware that, since 1986, in addition to her reign across the empire, she had under the Australia Act acquired the very specific title of Queen of Australia. So, rather than just being one of the realm, we anointed her in that regard.

Although I am a very proud republican and have worked with the Malcolm Turnbull campaign to advance Australia to independence, I think it is very important that we recognise Her Majesty's extraordinary reign and commitment to us, her subjects. It also should be noted that she is the only reigning monarch who has ever visited the state of South Australia and, for that, she should also be acknowledged. Of course, there have not been many in between her and Queen Victoria. I suppose it would have taken quite a long time to actually travel to South Australia in Queen Victoria's time.

Back in 1897, Queen Victoria celebrated her diamond jubilee—great women at the top—but she, of course, had a significantly greater empire than Her Majesty currently enjoys. By the time Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952, she had officially lost India, Ceylon, Pakistan and Burma. Some have peeled off and become quite independent since.

I still have a very beautiful photograph of my mother attending the Coronation Ball here at the Adelaide Town Hall in the early 1950s, when a young Queen Elizabeth visited Adelaide. Those in that vintage remember the Queen's visit with great affection. So, we thank her for not overlooking South Australia in the many areas of jurisdiction of her responsibility.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

Ms CHAPMAN: Sadly not, but I am trying to organise Prince William to come. We have a situation where The Queen, of course, under the modern commonwealth of nations, has worked tirelessly, strengthening bonds for the advancement of peace and prosperity in the world. In recognition of her, I quote:

People across the earth; regardless of age, sex, race, creed or colour, will honour Her Majesty—not for the armies at her command, but for the dignity with which she has reigned. Perhaps more so than any other monarch, her greatest influence comes from her moral authority rather than from constitutional arrangements. Even those who would rather see Australia governed as a republic would merely expose their malicious bias to suggest that Queen Elizabeth has not reigned with grace and dignity.

Indeed, during the republican campaign, which now seems to be in the distance past, I can recall that our motto on badges here in South Australia was, 'If you love her, let her go.' I stand along with all monarchists—and I am sure many other South Australians who share my view on becoming a republic—to express our appreciation of her loyal service. Her unquestionably deep commitment to her subjects, her tireless work ethic and her immense knowledge and wisdom will be forever with us. Sir Robert Menzies, so captured by the Queen, said, 'I did but see her passing by, and yet I will love her till I die.'

There have been lots of records and books written about Queen Elizabeth's reign. The film The Queen describes the tragedy of Princess Diana's death and the way in which the Queen held the royal family together during a very difficult time. It was a very good film. The film depicted Tony Blair, the very new prime minister—I think the 10th prime minister under Her Majesty's reign—arriving to be received by the Queen and a rather inelegant curtsy by Mrs Blair. However, I want to say this: how incredibly apt was her statement when she said words to the effect, 'Do have a seat, Mr Blair. I receive you, you don't receive me. I just want to let you know that you are my 10th prime minister. Winston Churchill has sat here before you.' Would that not cut you to the quick as the new prime minister? What an extraordinary woman.

I did sit with the Hon. Patrick Conlon on a committee on constitutional reform for South Australia about whether we would retain a head of state in South Australia. In that, we recognised the importance of The Queen's representative here as the keeper of the royal fish. For as long as I am alive her whale, sturgeon and dolphin will be safe, whatever is in the Fisheries Act.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mrs Geraghty.


[Sitting suspended from 13:01 to 14:00]


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