LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE CANBERRA TIMES

2 May 2008

John Warhurst (“G-G should not comment” (Canberra Times 1/5/08, p19) has missed the point when he criticises Governor-General Michael Jeffery’s views on our democratic system.

In the original Anzac Day Canberra Times story (“GG urges republicans to avoid ‘a big mistake’”, Canberra Times, 25/4/08, p6) General Jeffery made it clear that he was not commenting on whether there would be a change to a republic. And it is drawing a very long bow indeed to try to suggest that his remarks are critical of the current Government or the outcomes of the 2020 Summit.

In fact, the Governor-General repeated what he has said numerous times in various forums across the country, namely that Australians should not shirk from considering better ways of governing ourselves, that we should be better informed about our existing governance arrangements so that if we make any changes, we do so for the better and in a more informed way. Most importantly, he has stated that any change is a matter for the government of the day and the Australian people.

Brien Hallett
Acting Official Secretary to the Governor-General