Quentin Bryce has publicly backed both an Australian republic and same-sex marriage. But still some wrongly insist that the Governor-General should be ‘above politics’, writes Mark Fletcher.
Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, has sent chins a-wagging, fingers a-shaking, tuts a-tutting, and brows a-furrowing for having the audacity to demonstrate that she is a woman of formidable intellect. Ordinarily, any woman in Australia demonstrating such qualities mark themselves out for abuse of some kind or other, but this particular round of sanctimonious disapproval stems from Ms Bryce’s decision to occupy the role of public leader while simultaneously occupying the role of Head of State.
Delivering the 2013 Boyer Lecture for the ABC, the Governor-General had the temerity to indicate her support for marriage equality and of Australia one day becoming a Republic. Naturally, monarchists were upset that the Governor-General would publicly support the republic movement. Predictably, homophobes were upset that the Governor-General would publicly support the idea of not being a terrible person. Inevitably, there were going to be comments about how the Governor-General doesn’t have a place in public discussion because she should be ‘above politics’ and ‘above the day to day political fray’.
Make no mistake, these are opportunistic comments from the philosophically bankrupt. Their complaint is not that there’s some real reason why Ms Bryce shouldn’t make these comments; their complaint is that they disagree with her and silencing her is easier than engaging with the conversation. Had the Governor-General indicated support for Operation Sovereign Borders, for example, we would have a complete role reversal of the major players. The Greens would have been huffing and puffing, and the LNP would be beaming about the important place the Governor-General plays as a wise and impartial leader of public debate.
I am a monarchist and I disagree with Her Excellency’s support of the Republic. I am in favour of marriage equality. Regardless of my position on these issues, I think it is wonderful and laudable that the Governor-General would seek to lead a public discussion on what she saw to be a return to grassroots political change.
Time and time again, we have had eminently sensible and clever people become Governor-General who then immediately became little more than a sentient mannequin or a controversy magnet. No doubt, this has a lot to do with Sir John Kerr’s involvement in the dismissal. Can’t let the Head of State look too political. Can’t let the Head of State become controversial. Can’t let the Head of State use their head or state their opinions.
Even back in the 1930s, there was controversy over the appointment of Sir Isaac Isaacs:
According to Garran, cabinet in February or March, after considering Isaacs and Sir John Monash, decided to recommend Isaacs and so informed Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. By April the rumoured appointment had produced violent opposition, based largely on party-political grounds, to preferment of an Australian. It was argued that a local man would inevitably have personal involvements and that a distinguished citizen of the United Kingdom would better secure the bonds of Empire
[Source: Zelman Cowen, ‘Isaacs, Sir Isaac Alfred (1855–1948)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.]
Governors-General are not allowed to look like they have opinions — although surely they do. Australians have a difficult time coming to terms with the idea of bias, often believing that to be unbiased means simply and only not expressing one’s bias. Bureaucrats and ABC journalists are often subject to public and political condemnation not for being biased, but for expressing their bias. Instead of having the sensible and rational environment where people acknowledge their biases and prejudices for the sake of honest debate, we demand that certain people pretend that they’re neutral and objective.
The Governor-General is in something of a unique position within our political environment. She doesn’t have anything to gain from expressing one view or another. She can engage, encourage, and lead a conversation without worrying about political advantage. She is the closest thing we’ve got to a Philosopher-King. When we’re so sick and tired of the political spin cycle, how refreshing it is to have somebody genuine and inspirational to engage in the conversation.
Far from shaming the Governor-General for trying to improve the quality of public discussion, we should be praising her and encouraging her successor to do the same. We’re certainly not getting it from our elected representatives.
Mark Fletcher is a Canberra-based blogger and policy wonk who writes about conservatism, atheism, and popular culture. He blogs at OnlyTheSangfroid. This article was originally published on AusOpinion.com.
Publication: SBS
Author: Mark Fletcher
Date: 25 November 2013
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