Irony

Quentin Bryce has been appointed Governor General of Australia, with many Aussies hoping that her 5 year term will be last such appointment. She has become the first woman to hold the office, and surely the irony cant be ignored that she has become the first woman to represent their female Head of State.

The Governor General is the representative of HM Queen Elizabeth 11, the Australian Head of State. A debate has raged within Australia for years about becoming a republic. A referendum held in 1999 resulted in a no vote, but the issue at that time was clouded because the option being discussed was not an elected president, but one appointed by the Australian parliament.

It is likely the PM Rudd, who is experiencing a significant dip in his popularity, will resurrect the republican debate to take some heat off his mediocre performance.

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