I NOTE the news that Australia is to have a new Prime Minister with Tony Abbott being replaced by Malcolm Turnbull (“Abbott ousted as premier”, The Herald, September 15).
Malcolm Turnbull was, of course, previously chairman of the Australian Republican Movement. If that movement had succeeded in its objectives, Australia would have an Australian head of state rather than a hereditary monarch based in London thousands of miles away. One wonders how he feels about his recent attainment of the position as Prime Minister having to be endorsed, as it were, by the Queen’s representative, the Governor General. Is the time now approaching when, with Mr Turnbull taking over, Australia will hold another referendum, vote to become a republic, and thereby become a truly independent country? Has this prime ministerial change in Australia caused some frissons of concern within the House of Windsor?
Ian W Thomson,
38 Kirkintilloch Road, Lenzie.
THE recent debate about regnal numbers for our head of state (Letters, September 12, 15, 16 & 17) is missing the mark. Instead of a choice between an elected head of state and the “name and number” that the current incumbent from the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family uses, we should be asking if we actually need someone to tell our elected representatives “I see you’ve made another law; let’s have a look at it and I could always rubber-stamp it for you.” If our democratically-elected Parliament passes new legislation, it shouldn’t have to ask someone else if it’s okay with them, too.
Barry Lees,
12 Denholm Street, Greenock.
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