Australians carry a baton for the Queen, but her anthem's in dispute

[SlickHolden]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/common...191794518.html

COMMONWEALTH Games organisers have rejected Prime Minister John Howard's suggestion that God Save the Queen be played at the opening ceremony as a sign of "good manners".

Chairman Ron Walker said arrangements for the ceremony had already been made with Buckingham Palace and the royal anthem would not be played. Only the national anthem, Advance Australia Fair, will be played when the Commonwealth Games open in Melbourne on March 15.

"The Queen will be appropriately honoured in the opening ceremony and during her visit to Melbourne," Mr Walker said in a statement.

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks said he supported the decision not to play the royal anthem. But Mr Howard said it was "good manners" to play it when the Queen visits. "I have absolutely no difficulty myself in the playing of God Save the Queen in the presence of Her Majesty," he said. "I think it's appropriate … when Her Majesty attends a dinner here (it) will be played and it's just a matter of good manners … it's got nothing to do with republicanism."

Health Minister Tony Abbott, a staunch monarchist, went even further and called for Australians to sing the royal anthem with enthusiasm. "I certainly think it would be entirely appropriate to play God Save the Queen and totally appropriate for it to be sung enthusiastically."

Even Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone, a republican, thinks we should play it out of "respect for the sovereign". She said she still wanted Australia to become a republic, but while the Queen was the head of state we should show her respect.

Australians for Constitutional Monarchy convener David Flint said it was proper protocol to sing the royal anthem.

He said there were two protocols. Protocol 22 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth Games requires the national anthem of the host country to be played at the opening ceremony. A separate protocol for royal visits, drafted by the Hawke government in 1984, requires the royal anthem to be played when the Queen visits.

"The obvious solution is both (anthems) should be played. It is not an either or issue." Professor Flint said the organiser's "curious decision" not to play God Save the Queen, would make Australia look bad before the international community. "If it is not (played), it will be remarked on around the world. The international media has already taken notice. Australia will be portrayed as rude and ill-mannered, a conclusion which can so easily be avoided."

However, Australian Republican Movement chairman Ted O'Brien said Australia would look ludicrous if it played the British anthem at an event that was being hosted in our country, and where Australians and British athletes were competing. He said few Australians knew the words to God Save the Queen, and we had to stick with our national anthem for the sake of our national pride and identity. "Who would relate to God Save the Queen anyway?" he said. "It would be a political compromise to sing both … we don't compromise our national identity."

What do you guys think lets have a debate.

[Matra et Alpine]

Don't see the problem.

Australia has it's own national anthem -- go for it guys.

As a part of the commonwealth it can alsom if it wishes, chose to ahve the Britrish National anthem.

Don't see what all the fuss is about, we Scots have done it for years

[Birdman]

They don't need to play it. As it says in the article they have already made arrangments with Buckingham Palace.

And Tony Abbott needs to rethink his statment. As has been proven, many people don't know the words to our own anthem let alone the british one.

[Blue Supra]

yeh we have a whole second verse to our anthem that probably 1% of the country knows.

who gives a crap if its not. i wont miss anything.

[Mr. Jinx]

Mr howard needs to be slapped

[fpv_gtho]

Mr howard needs to be slapped

And we're not even considering the Commonwealth Games yet!

Ron Walker's a smart enough guy, when hes not running the games hes running the Motogp and F1 rounds. If hes made the arrangements i see no need to change them. John Howard would be better off admitting he doesnt expect his party to remain for another election and hes trying to increase his political ambitions...

[Blitz_]

Personally, i think it should be played, it is the "commonwealth" games, and to my belief the United kingdom / England did found the commonwealth. It should be played alongside the National Anthom, after it of course. Just a sign or respect me thinks..

and Mr Howard should be slapped? he's far better than anything Labor have in their ranks, in my own personal opinion, he's out best prime minister for decades, and liberal will, and always will be a better party. Each time Labor are in government, shit goes wrong and Liberal party has to fix it all up when they are re-elected. Lil Johnny sure is dull, but he's a hell of a PM. I don't think it's right to openly say things like "should be slapped" because people who make those kind of comments know very little about the government system themselves and the decisions these people make to govern this very country we live in.


p.s Labor is the shits, haha Beazley needs to lay off the hotdogs and be a proper polly.

[fpv_gtho]

Without getting into a political debate about this, neither Liberal nor Labour are perfect. Everything Howards fixed, hes screwed up something else. Its the nature of Liberal being more fascist and Labour being more socialist.

The facts seem to point at Howard sticking his nose into something he otherwise has no control over.

[Blitz_]

Even though he has no control its still something pointed out during parliament, and it does have ramifications once the media get a hold of it. I don't mind it being played at all. Its an anthum, nothing big, why do we have to be arrogant and poke our tongues out at the queen for not playing it? Just get it over and done with and play it..

Socialits, haha i hate unions, they are a pathetic group of people whom i have no respect, disrupting constructions, people and whaterver they touch. Hence why labor is a terrible government, they tend to listen to the *whinging* unions too much. Meh, i dont want to get into a political debate either.

Prediction if I may, Liberal will run all over labor in the next election...

[fpv_gtho]

Is it a matter of Federal parliament, or does the Victorian government handle most of it, with the Feds dropping a good word...

[Blitz_]

more of the latter i assume, i heard the Vic premier having a good say about it not long ago...

[Mr. Jinx]

the vic premier is an idiot

i did yr11 in the same school he did
GO ST PATS!!!!

[2ndclasscitizen]

God Save The queen, the facist ragime, they made you a martyr, a potential h-bomb

thats what we should sing

F**K THE QUEEN, WE'RE AUSSIES, LETS SING A SONG FOR THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF OUR HOME

LET THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF OUR LAND PICK A SONG FOR OUR ATHLETE"S TO SING

[SlickHolden]

Isn't respect to the queen she gets the royal treatment everywhere she goes?
I bet she hasn't stuck her hand in the Percy for as long as John Howard
This has been in agreement for some time now, So Why does Howard stick his nose in now this late? Deflect attention it's called.
Me I'm still waiting for all the goodies John Howard and Peter Costello promised when the GST was introduced. We will be better off he said. Did he mean the Government would be
They can't afford to paint commission house's but can spend out $200,000 on leather seats and new tables in Parliament for lunch time.
Am i better of with Howard.....NO

One thing Blitz you should never insult the Unions. The one and only reason is with all the workers out there that need a voice they are there only voice,
If 10,000 workers are cut off can they go and speak to there employers? No. Can they speak to the Governments? No
Your only commenting on what you see on TV's with rally and stuff.
The Unions meet with Employers and Governments and discus a range of issues including pay increases lose of work etc. The workers can't do that.

[fpv_gtho]

Isn't respect to the queen she gets the royal treatment everywhere she goes?

She should get more than that. You might argue Howards almost given Bush Monarchial treatment at times though...