You wouldn’t think the NSW government had the time. Of course,it has the money – yours.
As we mentioned in a previous column, The Australian’s Imre Salusinszky has described the NSW government as the nation’s most incompetent.
Whether that is so, it is certainly one of the nation’s leaders in its rampage to remove all and every indication of one of the pillars of the nation and a central constitutional institution, one above the squalor of politics -our Australian Crown.
Last decade they were doing the same to our Flag, but because of the action of patriotic Australians, they have somersaulted on that.
Their obsession now is to make the Australian Crown so invisible that the people will forget about it.
The NSW Premier has not even been content with ejecting the Governor from Government House, at considerable additional cost to the taxpayer, and ensuring that the position is reserved only for those who live in inner Sydney.
We now have the absolutely pointless removal of the Royal Coat of Arms, which has been displayed in New South Wales from 1788.
The practice was that the Governor and the Courts displayed the Royal Coat of Arms, and the politicians the State Coat of Arms.
This was a useful distinction.
But legislation was forced through, in spite of considerable opposition by constiutionalists in Parliament, led by the Rev Fred Nile MLC, David Clark MLC, Anthony Roberts MLA and others.
Well, we have no intention of passively accepting these increasing,unwanted and unapproved doses of creeping republicanism, whether in NSW or any other state, or territory, and whichever level of government is the perpetrator.
We are going to record all these instances of creeping republicanism, to name their perpetrators, to estimate the cost of each one and then to publish these on our website and elsewhere -when we think it timely.
The electors will no doubt be interested to know what their representatives have been doing.
So send them in! By post or email.
Head them "CREEPING REPUBLICANISM"
Open with a brief summary:
CREEPING REPUBLICANISM-SUMMARY
(1) the date and place;
(2) a brief description;
(3) those responsible;
(4) an estimate of the cost, if you have that and where this comes from.
If you want to send details, send them after the summary.
You can go back to past acts of treachery, too! Let’s make this as detailed as we can.
Let’s embarrass those republican politicians with details of what they get up to and how much of your money they spend!
And now for something very interesting.
Nigel Morris, the admirable President of the Australian Flag Society, has managed to get his hands on a missive from Bob Carr’s office to public servants, telling them how to pull down the Royal Coat of Arms from our buildings.
He has sent out the following email, which is worth quoting, as it captures the spirit of just what is being done without any mandate whatsoever.
"Following is a self explainatory circular put out by Premier Bob Carr. It details his government’s policy of removing the Queen’s personal symbol from all public buildings in the state. If you read the circular carefully it seems clear the government will employ people to literally chisel these symbols out of some buildings if they have to. That’s radical republicanism! What do you think about that?
Yeah, me too.
Farewell the NSW monarchy. We will remember you when all outward signs that you exist are gone.
Nigel Morris President
Australian Flag Society Inc. PO Box 908 Gunnedah, NSW 2380 Australia
Email: [email protected] Web: www.flagsociety.org.au"
This is the memo from Bob Carr’s office which Mr Morris sent with his email:
NSW Premier Bob Carr
C2004-23 Implementation of the State Arms, Symbols and Emblems Act 2004
The purpose of this circular is to draw to the attention of agencies particular obligations under the State Arms, Symbols and Emblems Act 2004.
The Act regulates the use and display of the State arms, symbols (including the NSW flag and crest) and emblems (including the waratah, the kookaburra, the platypus and the blue groper) and ensures their uniform use on government buildings, documents and official seals. It commenced on 2 March 2004.
The State arms, symbols and emblems are depicted or referred to in the Schedules to the Act. In summary terms, the Act:
requires that as soon as practicable after commencement of the Act, the State arms or a State symbol are to be used wherever arms or symbols are used to signify the authority of the State on public buildings or in publications; requires existing Royal arms to be removed and replaced with the State arms on all seals and documents as soon as practicable but no later than within three years of commencement of the Act (by 1 March 2007); and requires existing Royal arms to be removed from all public buildings and replaced with the State arms "as soon as practicable" unless the Premier’s approval has been given, following consultation with the Heritage Council, for the existing Royal arms to be retained on the basis that they form an integral part of the heritage of a building.
In addition, the Act prohibits the use of the State arms or a State symbol in connection with any trade, business, calling or profession, or for the collection of debts, without the authority of the Governor or Attorney General.
All chief executives should ensure that the requirements of the Act are brought to the attention of their agencies. Agencies should review their operations to determine if any changes should be made. Where changes do not have to be finalised until 1 March 2007, any changes should be introduced gradually to ensure that any additional costs are avoided or minimised.
In non-heritage buildings, the Royal arms should be replaced with the State arms when refurbishments or structural changes are made to those buildings. Any cost associated with such changes will have to be met from the existing resources for the proposed building work.
In buildings of heritage significance, where agencies consider that the Royal arms should be retained, the Minister responsible for the agency should write to the Premier setting out the reasons in support of retention so that the Premier may consult with the Heritage Council. Agencies should note that the Act requires the State arms to be displayed in a prominent position in conjunction with the Royal arms in any building where they are retained.
The Act also requires that where Royal arms which are in a sculptured or durable form are to be removed or replaced (for example, where they are removed from a building or where a seal or other non-fixture is to be replaced), these should be housed or otherwise dealt with as directed by the Premier after consultation with the Heritage Council. If any Royal arms are proposed to be removed, the Minister responsible for the agency should write to the Premier seeking direction on how those arms should be housed or conserved as part of the heritage of New South Wales.
Col Gellatly Director-General
Issued: The Cabinet Office Contact: Anthony Lean, Policy Manager, Legal Branch Phone: 9228 5543 E-Mail: [email protected]
……….
Well. I suppose with the drought, the transport breakdowns, the failure to provide infrastructure, the problems with law and order, the government has the time , and our money, to engage in these republican antics.
This recalls aspects of Orwell’s 1984.
Take away the people’s memory, make them forget their heritage.
Then the elites can change society to the way they really want it.
Until next time,
David Flint.
CORRECTION
In a recent column, "QUEEN DEFIANT", I referred to last Sunday’s Herald Sun as being dated 14 July, 2005. That of course should have read 10 July, 2005. My apologies if that caused you any problems.