The Monarchy Today > Queen and Commonwealth > Australia

The Queen meets school children on a walkabout in Sydney in March 2006
© Press Association

View a gallery of images of The Queen of Australia.

THE QUEEN'S ROLE IN AUSTRALIA

When The Queen visits Australia, she speaks and acts as Queen of Australia, and not as Queen of the United Kingdom.

As a constitutional monarch, The Queen acts entirely on the advice of Australian Government Ministers who are responsible to Parliament.

The Queen is represented in Australia at the federal level by a Governor-General. He or she is appointed by The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister of Australia and is completely independent of the British Government.

At the state level The Queen is represented by the Governors of each state who are appointed on the advice of each state Premier.

The Queen maintains direct contact with the Governor-General, although she delegates executive power to him or her in virtually every respect.

The present Governor-General of Australia is Ms Quentin Bryce. Her Excellency Ms Bryce was appointed in July 2003 as the 24th Governor of Queensland.

Duties which the Governor-General carries out in the name of The Queen include opening and dissolving the Australian Parliament; commissioning the Prime Minister and appointing other Ministers after elections; giving assent to laws when they have been passed by the two Houses of Parliament; and appointing Federal judges and ambassadors and high commissioners to overseas countries.

The Governor-General is the Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force, although in practice he or she acts only on the advice of Ministers. As Commander-in-Chief, the Governor-General has an important ceremonial role to play.

He or she attends military parades and special occasions such as Anzac Day, and presents colours and other insignia to units of the Australian Defence Force.

As The Queen's representative, the Governor-General also receives and entertains official visitors to Australia; conducts investitures at which people receive awards for notable service to the community; and entertains many Australian citizens active in the life of the community.

Both the Governor-General and The Queen send congratulatory messages to people celebrating notable birthdays and wedding anniversaries.

Even while based in the United Kingdom, The Queen is sensitive to her role as Queen of Australia, acknowledging issues which affect Australia through messages or congratulating Australian achievement.


	The Queen meets school children on a walkabout in Sydney in March 2006 © Press Association View a gallery of images of The Queen of Australia. THE QUEEN'S ROLE IN AUSTRALIA When The Queen visits Australia, she speaks and acts as Queen of Australia, and not as Queen of the United Kingdom. As a constitutional monarch, The Queen acts entirely on the advice of Australian Government Ministers who are responsible to Parliament. The Queen is represented in Australia at the federal level by a Governor-General. He or she is appointed by The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister of Australia and is completely independent of the British Government. At the state level The Queen is represented by the Governors of each state who are appointed on the advice of each state Premier. The Queen maintains direct contact with the Governor-General, although she delegates executive power to him or her in virtually every respect. The present Governor-General of Australia is Ms Quentin Bryce. Her Excellency Ms Bryce was appointed in July 2003 as the 24th Governor of Queensland. Duties which the Governor-General carries out in the name of The Queen include opening and dissolving the Australian Parliament; commissioning the Prime Minister and appointing other Ministers after elections; giving assent to laws when they have been passed by the two Houses of Parliament; and appointing Federal judges and ambassadors and high commissioners to overseas countries. The Governor-General is the Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force, although in practice he or she acts only on the advice of Ministers. As Commander-in-Chief, the Governor-General has an important ceremonial role to play. He or she attends military parades and special occasions such as Anzac Day, and presents colours and other insignia to units of the Australian Defence Force. As The Queen's representative, the Governor-General also receives and entertains official visitors to Australia; conducts investitures at which people receive awards for notable service to the community; and entertains many Australian citizens active in the life of the community. Both the Governor-General and The Queen send congratulatory messages to people celebrating notable birthdays and wedding anniversaries. Even while based in the United Kingdom, The Queen is sensitive to her role as Queen of Australia, acknowledging issues which affect Australia through messages or congratulating Australian achievement.
	The Queen's Royal style and title in Australia is Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth. At her Coronation on 2 June 1953, The Queen swore an oath to govern the peoples of Australia and her other realms "according to their respective laws and customs." In February 2006, for example, The Queen hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace for prominent Australians living in the United Kingdom. When visiting Australia, The Queen is able to undertake some of the ceremonial roles of the Sovereign. In 1954, for example, The Queen opened Parliament in Canberra for the first time, wearing the gown she had worn for her Coronation the previous year. The Queen supports public service through her patronage of a large number of Australian organisations. These include The Royal Humane Society of Australasia; the Partially Blinded Soldiers' Association of Australia; the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne; the Scout Association of Australia; and the Mothers' Union in Australia. In addition The Queen holds a number of titles in the Australian Armed Forces, and has attended many events to honour their service in world conflicts. In 2003, for example, The Queen acknowledged the huge debt owed to Australian servicemen and women in two world wars by opening the Australian War Memorial at Hyde Park Corner in London. During her visits to Australia, one of The Queen's most important roles is to visit as many areas of society as possible. The Queen aims to recognise the achievements of the country's different cultures and communities, from traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to the vibrant and economically flourishing cities. The Queen A biography of the Head of State SUGGESTED LINKS Governor-General of Australia Government of Australia