Bob Katter, the long-serving MP for the northern Queensland seat of Kennedy, has refused to swear allegiance to King Charles, his heirs and successors during the opening of parliament.

When asked if he would swear allegiance, Katter responded: “No, I swear allegiance to the Australian people.”

The small protest did not disrupt proceedings, as it did when Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe gave the oath in 2022.

Members are asked to swear faith and allegiance to King Charles III. They are expected to respond “I do”.

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[–] Nath@aussie.zone 1 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I don't call myself a monarchist. But I am in favour of someone holding the power to send us to an election if we get a non-functional government. Whoever that is needs to be totally independent of our day-to-day politics and essentially un-bribable.

Right now, that's the king in England. I'm not against disconnecting from that - but like I said, I don't know where else you'll find someone who is outside daily politics in Australia and can't be bribed to act against our interests. If you have a name, I'm all ears (so is the king! 😆).

If you are proposing we just do away with that, then I'd love to know how you'd deal with an Australian Trump administration. Because 3-4 years of that doesn't sound fun.

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Would there be an issue with that duty falling to the governor-general, perhaps making the position electable to someone who has no party affiliation? Just thinking off the top of my head. Totally expect everyone to point out all the flaws in this idea.

[–] Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone 3 points 1 week ago

Its not the King in England, its the GG here. She has the real power, the King only has a power to advise the Governor General and to a degree the Prime Minister.

Its important Australians, at least, realise that we very much are our own nation, subject to the same coercions and bribes that befall any middling nation such as ours, but at the end of the day we already have and use the power to shape our destiny.