• NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      edit-2
      2 days ago

      They apparently have the authority to fire all of Australia’s parliament. -If I understand correctly, Australia has also not had another government shutdown since, either.

      • HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        edit-2
        2 days ago

        The UK monarchy have no such power under Australia’s Constitution.

        Constitutional duties

        The Governor-General has specific constitutional and statutory powers. The Governor-General acts on the advice of Ministers who are responsible to Parliament (and ultimately, through elections, the Australian people).

        Key constitutional duties include:

        - Presiding over the Federal Executive Council
        - Facilitating the work of the Commonwealth Parliament and Government
        - Dissolving Parliament and issuing writs for a Federal election
        - Commissioning the Prime Minister; appointing Ministers and Assistant Ministers; and swearing-in other statutory positions
        - Holding and possibly exercising the Reserve Powers.
        

        Under the Australian Constitution, the only action performed by The King is the appointment of the Governor-General (on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister).

        Source – https://www.gg.gov.au/about-governor-general/role-governor-general

        • AxExRx@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          2 days ago

          So if he wanted to, rhe king could appoint a new governor general, choosing one who would disolve parliament?

          • NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            2 days ago

            That’s basically what happened. Except IIRC they wanted to give the queen plausible deniability so she wasn’t notified of the Governor-General’s actions till after the fact.

    • copd@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 day ago

      They still get paid lots of public money and the monarch has no legal obligation to pay tax

    • Tm12@lemmy.ca
      cake
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      2 days ago

      The crown still plays a role in Canadian politics unfortunately.

        • Tm12@lemmy.ca
          cake
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          2 days ago

          And the Governor General who has the power to dissolve the government is…?

          Edit: also they’re littered all over our legal tender.

          • Thalfon@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            3
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            2 days ago

            Mary Simon, a Canadian citizen and an indigenous person (Inuk on her mother’s side) who was chosen by Queen Elizabeth for the role on the advice of then prime minister Trudeau.

            While the role has formal diplomatic ties to the monarchy, it is a Canadian who holds it and the prime minister who really selects them (in the guise of advising the crown on who to select).

            Of course the monarchy has diplomatic power here (all the rich and powerful do) but the governor general isn’t really an example of the crown being able to issue us orders or the like.

            • Tm12@lemmy.ca
              cake
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              arrow-down
              3
              ·
              2 days ago

              The GG has recently DENIED proroguing of parliament by both Harper and Trudeau in the past 17 years. That sounds like Monarchy Influence to me. Argue all you want that a Canadian is doing it, but they represent the Crown.