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OMG! "Curtsey-gate"

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OMG!
Gillard did not consider curtseying when greeting the Queen

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...eeting-the-queen/story-fnaivo74-1226171659159
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Has it occurred to anybody in the Royalist Camp that Julia Gillard - love her or hate her - is the elected Head of Government of a sovereign Nation? As such, she and the Queen meet as equals, quite like Chairman and CEO of a public company.
It's OK for the GG to curtsey: She is the Queen's local deputy and as such her subordinate. (Which, IMHO, is one more reason why we should be allowed to elect our own representative/ ceremonial figurehead.)

OK, so every "new" Australian affirmed allegiance to the Queen and "her hairs" as I heard it pronounced at ceremonies I attended. But to most of our citizens of non-British extraction, that hardly meant more than accepting the fact that she is Australia's representative figurehead. Let's get used to life in a free Democracy of the 21st century and learn the difference between respect for someone's achievements and servile subordinance.
 
I'm not sure why there should even be any comment about this. Protocol apparently allows those meeting the Queen the choice of a curtsey or a bowing of the head.
Ms Gillard chose the latter. What's the problem?

I'm entirely with Julia Gillard on this. She did not do anything wrong and chose what I'd say is the more sensible option. i.e. she hardly has the figure to look reasonable doing a curtsey, quite apart from the antiquated notion of such a gesture.

I don't care whether the monarchy continues or we have a republic. I don't think either state makes Australia successful or otherwise.

But at present the Queen is it. At 85 I reckon she's doing brilliantly. Despite huge challenges in her own family and outside of it, she has never lost her dignity.
So, just imo, of course, I'm really pleased to see her afforded the sort of reception she seems to have had so far, including that from the Prime Minister.
 
pixel said:
OMG! Has it occurred to anybody in the Royalist Camp that Julia Gillard - love her or hate her - is the elected Head of Government of a sovereign Nation? As such, she and the Queen meet as equals, quite like Chairman and CEO of a public company.
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That's not correct. The Queen of Australia, as head of the Executive, is the Head of State (it's Her Majesty's Government afterall). To be more abstract, the Queen is the personification of the Australian state. The PM is absolutely not equal to her anymore than the British, Canadian, Jamaican etc PM is equal to her.

I agree on the whole thing being overblown and fairly antiquated though.

pixel said:
OK, so every "new" Australian affirmed allegiance to the Queen and "her hairs" as I heard it pronounced at ceremonies I attended.
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She does have a lovely full head of hair despite her age! :D
 
Another Newscorp beatup. Not even a mention on the other media.
Front page of the Herald Sun. They really have it in for her.
 
Knobby22 said:
Another Newscorp beatup. Not even a mention on the other media.
Front page of the Herald Sun. They really have it in for her.
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It did make the TV News this afternoon - the Wife doesn't remember, where she saw it first. But in Ten's 7PM Project, it was "important" enough for a quick Poll. fwiw, they claimed 45% were appalled about the faux-pas, 55% said a handshake is OK.

http://7pmproject.com.au/nation-may-not-recover.htm
 
McLovin said:
That's not correct. The Queen of Australia, as head of the Executive, is the Head of State (it's Her Majesty's Government afterall).
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That may be technically correct, but I beg to differ:
The Australian Government is OUR elected government, not HERS; the Queen is half a world away and has no practical influence on the way Australia governs itself. In a practical sense, her role is purely ornamental, adding pomp and colour to official occasions like CHOGM and similar gabfests.
 
pixel said:
That may be technically correct, but I beg to differ:
The Australian Government is OUR elected government, not HERS; the Queen is half a world away and has no practical influence on the way Australia governs itself. In a practical sense, her role is purely ornamental, adding pomp and colour to official occasions like CHOGM and similar gabfests.
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If it were YOUR Government, then it wouldn't serve at Her Majesty's pleasure and the GG wouldn't have the power to dismiss the Government (Presidents can't dismiss or dissolve legislatures). At the same time, she is YOUR Head of State and outranks the PM. You may not like it, and I'm inclined to agree with you, but it is completely incorrect to say "As such, she [Gillard] and the Queen meet as equals". The Head of Government never outranks the Head of State. She is the Queen of Australia seperately to being the Queen of the United Kingdom.
 
The Australian PM curtseys to nobody, nowhere.

Fully support PM Gillards's decision.
 
Knobby22 said:
Another Newscorp beatup. Not even a mention on the other media.
Front page of the Herald Sun. They really have it in for her.
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Just not so, Knobby. It has been discussed on two ABC Radio stations that I've heard, and one of them even had an hour and a half talkback on it last night.

The following is from the official site of the Royal Family:

The Queen meets thousands of people each year in the UK and overseas. Before meeting Her Majesty, many people ask how they should behave. The simple answer is that there are no obligatory codes of behaviour - just courtesy.

However, many people wish to observe the traditional forms of greeting.

For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way.

On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Ma'am'.
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It would be my guess that the Queen herself is very accepting of any behaviour that is clearly welcoming and courteous and would not in the least be offended by Ms Gillard's decision not to curtsey, a gesture which I'd regard as pretty embarrassing, really.
 
Logique said:
The Australian PM curtseys to nobody, nowhere.

Fully support PM Gillards's decision.
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Curtsy to the Queen, no.

However she should bow to the wishes of the Australian people and ### off. :p:
 
I don't see any reason for anyone to bow or curtsey to anyone else! It is servile and demeaning. The queen is a hard working and dignified lady, and deserving of respect, but that is all.
 
McLovin said:
That's not correct. The Queen of Australia, as head of the Executive, is the Head of State (it's Her Majesty's Government afterall). To be more abstract, the Queen is the personification of the Australian state. The PM is absolutely not equal to her anymore than the British, Canadian, Jamaican etc PM is equal to her.
:D
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Hmmm! not sure if you're right McLovin. The Queen might be Head of State, but it is purely ceremonial. She has no powers in Australia.
 
Speeches in the Queen's presence today from both the PM and Tony Abbott were a credit to both of them and/or their speechwriters. Totally different in tone, but both entirely appropriate.

http://www.tonyabbott.com.au/News/t...esty-Queen-Elizabeth-II-Parliament-House.aspx

Can't find a link to Ms Gillard's speech, but it was way better than any I've previously heard her deliver in terms of content and sincerity of delivery.
 
Julia said:
Speeches in the Queen's presence today from both the PM and Tony Abbott were a credit to both of them and/or their speechwriters. Totally different in tone, but both entirely appropriate.

http://www.tonyabbott.com.au/News/t...esty-Queen-Elizabeth-II-Parliament-House.aspx

Can't find a link to Ms Gillard's speech, but it was way better than any I've previously heard her deliver in terms of content and sincerity of delivery.
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Gillard has a new pommy speechwriter and minder, used be a journo in Scotland. I'm unsure if he wears a kilt. The speech was better than any her idiots managed to put together since she king hit poor ole Kev07 last year.

gg
 
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