17 October 2011

Everything you need to know about the royal visit.

| johnboy
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The Queen’s website has a program of her visit to Canberra.

Fleshing that out though we have a plethora of pages from Territory And Municipal Services.

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LOL ABC news 24 announced the diving police found a shopping trolley and a park bench in the river next to the Jetty at Commonwealth Park. Welcome to Canberra!

She’s been to Queanbeyan before, as has Prince Charles.

DCK said :

I-filed said :

LSWCHP said :

I’d really like to know how much, if anything, this is this going to cost the people of the ACT. I can’t imagine the security and all the other logistical infrastructure will be funded by HM, so where is the coin coming from?

I’m sure HM the Q is a nice lady, but overall, I’d prefer she stayed away from us. The sooner we become a republic the better. This is starting to look ridiculous.

I’d be more concerned about how much they are spending on the visit of Mary Donaldson from Tasmania – now Danish Princess Mary. She will be in Canberra on a “trade visit” … like, Danish trade … and we’re picking up the tab!

Agree LSWCHP Just why are the leaders of this Trade Visit guests of our GG and why is the GG seen to be supporting Danish trade? not to mention Julia will probably be falling all over them as well as they lead the Bright Green Team, something to do with supporting the carbon tax maybe ?? and from what I gather they will be flown about the country at tax payers expense.
At least Queen Elizabeth 2 is not here trying to flog British goods to us and expecting us to pay for her holiday.
At the moment we are part of the Commonwealth and the Queen is Head of State and for the moment that’s all for the best, just imagine if our present Government were able to choose a Head of State, probably end up with Blinky Bill or some such.

On the Gruen Transfer (or whatever it’s called now) tonight, Todd Whathisname from Leo-Burnett specifically pointed out that the pommy royal family are really all about enhancing trade for the British, with Charles, William, Harry et al spending a lot of their time poncing about all over the place adding PR value to the closure of major business deals by British firms. He was correct in this assessment.

Tthe House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Saxe-Coburg_and_Gotha)…ahem…excuse me…*choke*….the house of Windsor….do not have our interests at heart. They look after the Brits, and we are a bunch of unpleasant but occasionally useful foreigners. We’ve been useful in the past in supplying cannon fodder (like my Grandpa), as a source of raw materials and as a market for their manufactured goods. Now we are just annoying bumptious colonials.

We would be well rid of these odious people, and their baleful influence on our society.

Holden Caulfield said :

I hope she goes to Queenbeyan.

What a royally awful pun!

Holden Caulfield9:47 am 19 Oct 11

Lookout Smithers said :

Is she going to The George Harcourt Inn?

I hope she goes to Queenbeyan.

Lookout Smithers11:33 pm 18 Oct 11

Is she going to The George Harcourt Inn?

I am disappointed they didn’t make Thursday another public holiday so we could go see the queen on her barge.

I-filed said :

LSWCHP said :

I’d really like to know how much, if anything, this is this going to cost the people of the ACT. I can’t imagine the security and all the other logistical infrastructure will be funded by HM, so where is the coin coming from?

I’m sure HM the Q is a nice lady, but overall, I’d prefer she stayed away from us. The sooner we become a republic the better. This is starting to look ridiculous.

I’d be more concerned about how much they are spending on the visit of Mary Donaldson from Tasmania – now Danish Princess Mary. She will be in Canberra on a “trade visit” … like, Danish trade … and we’re picking up the tab!

Agree LSWCHP Just why are the leaders of this Trade Visit guests of our GG and why is the GG seen to be supporting Danish trade? not to mention Julia will probably be falling all over them as well as they lead the Bright Green Team, something to do with supporting the carbon tax maybe ?? and from what I gather they will be flown about the country at tax payers expense.
At least Queen Elizabeth 2 is not here trying to flog British goods to us and expecting us to pay for her holiday.
At the moment we are part of the Commonwealth and the Queen is Head of State and for the moment that’s all for the best, just imagine if our present Government were able to choose a Head of State, probably end up with Blinky Bill or some such.

Cheap said :

You would rather a head of state chosen by nothing other than being born into the role than one that is elected by popular vote?

It doesn’t matter who or where the symbolic the head is, provided they behave well and their local representative (in our case Quentin Bryce) is acceptable. Many of the world’s oldest prosperous stable democracies are constitutional monarchies – Australia, NZ, Canada, Sweden, Netherlands, Britain, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Belgium. There is simply no person in Australia who could do the job as well as QEII. We have kindly, dutiful, popular luminaries but few are above politics. There’s something to be said for being “born to it”. QEII will be SORELY missed when she’s gone – in about 17 years if she lives as long as her ma. The only alternative would be to have a nominal head of state represented by, say, some random Australian picked by lottery. But you can’t see them carrying out the duties quite so well!

ConanOfCooma5:27 pm 18 Oct 11

That water is a special kind of rancid green, isn’t it?

creative_canberran5:25 pm 18 Oct 11

Waiting For Godot said :

creative_canberran said :

Cheap said :

I wonder if the ACT School Book Depository has a good view of the lake…

I would suspect counter snipers on the National Library roof is more likely.
Really not funny to joke about. Had Kennedy not being shot, Vietnam would never have gone as far as it did.

If Kennedy hadn’t been elected, Vietnam would never have happened.

Please read up on your history. Roosevelt had intended that following the war, self determination should be accorded to Vietnam. The CIA was even working with Ho Chi Minh during WWII and there was a certain level of mutual respect.

When Roosevelt died, Truman was the one who came in with his huge fear of the Russians. The US under Truman funded the entire French effort to reassert colonial control.
Kennedy certainly ramped things up in fear of appearing that the US was retreating from Communism but in the weeks before his assassination, he was firmly of the belief that it would be a lost cause and they should retreat to economic aid instead only instead of military commitments. In no small part, this was because the CIA was telling him Vietnam wasn’t a risk, in fact both Truman and Kennedy were told of other bigger threats from Communism.
The LBJ came in and despite a lot of evidence that he was conflicted and privately averse to intervention, political reasons prompted him to commit the extensive forces he did.

Waiting For Godot2:45 pm 18 Oct 11

creative_canberran said :

Cheap said :

I wonder if the ACT School Book Depository has a good view of the lake…

I would suspect counter snipers on the National Library roof is more likely.
Really not funny to joke about. Had Kennedy not being shot, Vietnam would never have gone as far as it did.

If Kennedy hadn’t been elected, Vietnam would never have happened.

Funky1 said :

All this talk of an outdated monarchy reminds me of the scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail :

King Arthur: I am your king.
Woman: Well I didn’t vote for you.
King Arthur: You don’t vote for kings.
Woman: Well how’d you become king then?
[Angelic music plays… ]
King Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. THAT is why I am your king.
Dennis: [interrupting] Listen, strange women lyin’ in ponds distributin’ swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.

That aquatic ceremony is no more farcical than the obscene use of male primogeniture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primogeniture) to select the English monarch. If Prince William had been female, Harry would be in line for the throne ahead of his older sister. The whole thing is offensive and wrong, and we should have nothing to do with it.

Jethro said :

Deref said :

Besides, what qualifications do you need to open school fetes or throw parties for foreign dignitaries?

The problem is that under our current system the G-G actually has a considerable amount of power; however, convention dictates that the G-G doesn’t really exercise this power.

Having a populary elected G-G could lead to the elected Head of State to start thinking they have a mandate to start exercising these powers. Having one elected by a 2/3 majority of parliament is the preferable option, but as we saw at the last referendum, not poplar with the community.

So, I would say at the very least.you would need someone with an understanding of constitutional conventions in Australia and a willingness to adhere by them. Either that, or the powers as set out in the constitution be stripped from the G-G.

We could have three heads of state and they could vote on any decision 🙂

Does anyone have information on the roads that will be closed for the Queen’s convoy?

All this talk of an outdated monarchy reminds me of the scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail :

King Arthur: I am your king.
Woman: Well I didn’t vote for you.
King Arthur: You don’t vote for kings.
Woman: Well how’d you become king then?
[Angelic music plays… ]
King Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. THAT is why I am your king.
Dennis: [interrupting] Listen, strange women lyin’ in ponds distributin’ swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.

Deref said :

Besides, what qualifications do you need to open school fetes or throw parties for foreign dignitaries?

The problem is that under our current system the G-G actually has a considerable amount of power; however, convention dictates that the G-G doesn’t really exercise this power.

Having a populary elected G-G could lead to the elected Head of State to start thinking they have a mandate to start exercising these powers. Having one elected by a 2/3 majority of parliament is the preferable option, but as we saw at the last referendum, not poplar with the community.

So, I would say at the very least.you would need someone with an understanding of constitutional conventions in Australia and a willingness to adhere by them. Either that, or the powers as set out in the constitution be stripped from the G-G.

poetix said :

Is the Admiral’s Barge one of those pedal-boats with a flag on it? Just imagine…

An admirals barge, not sure how many are around.

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2009/mar/20090313/20090313ran8098978_108_lo.jpg

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2009/mar/20090313/20090313ran8098578_143_lo.jpg

Holden Caulfield1:19 pm 18 Oct 11

Vote 1 REPUBLIC (with particular attention to LWSCHP and p1’s previous posts on the matter).

Otherwise, not too fussed either way by QEII’s visit.

Can’t wait for Charlie and Camilla to get the nod, haha. I suspect even the Windsors will know it will be better for their popularity/longevity to get William and Diana Mk2 into the Palace sooner rather than later.

creative_canberran1:08 pm 18 Oct 11

Cheap said :

I wonder if the ACT School Book Depository has a good view of the lake…

I would suspect counter snipers on the National Library roof is more likely.
Really not funny to joke about. Had Kennedy not being shot, Vietnam would never have gone as far as it did.

creative_canberran1:05 pm 18 Oct 11

Didn’t the AFP just get a couple of new jet skis for the SRS-TR division? I bet this whole boat thing is just an excuse to dust them off.
Frankly there’s more cost effective options. The population of water rats in the lake is quite large and some are large and bad ass enough to swim along side with a glock keeping an eye out?

bigfeet said :

Popular vote would ensure something like President Mercedes Corby, The only other option is a two-third majority of Parliament agreeing on a choice. i lost faith in that process when a poll of federal politicians during the Keating government came up with President Ernie Dingo as the preferred choice.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Or President Mully.

I agree, though – popular vote would be a disaster. 2/3 majority of Parliament would work superbly – Ernie Dingo would make a great, and very funny, HOS.

Besides, what qualifications do you need to open school fetes or throw parties for foreign dignitaries?

Typsy McStaggers11:47 am 18 Oct 11

Chip said :

Like a lot of republicans, I think that trying to speed the inevitable move to a republic would be unnecessary and unseemly while she remains on the throne. I hope her trip goes well.

I totally agree. People fear change, and that is okay, nothing wrong with that. But I think people generally over-estimate the amount of change there would be.

To me, we’ve become the spoilt 30 year old son that does quite well for himself (comparitively) but refuses to leave home because he is to scared to go it alone. Time to grow up.

Think of all those countries whose citizens were willing to die to become a republic!

Can I also add (I’m going to anyway) that noone was more surprised by Australia voting ‘no’ to the republic referendum than the Queen herself.

Having said all that I’m very pleased the Queen is gracing our shores and our fine city.

I am conflicted with the whole monarchy/republic issue. On one hand I am a sucker for traditions, and the Queen is a pretty tops woman. On the other hand I would love Australia to have something ours, and ours alone.

When she finally goes (which might not be for a while considering her genetics), I will find it much harder to want the British Royalty, but I am so very afraid of the monumental balls-up that any of our current crop of federal pollies would undoubtedly make of designing a replacement system.

Mostly I hope we don’t end up with a head of state called a “President”. Too many buffoons, dictators and inept fools have held that title around the world for me to ever properly respect it. Personally, I think we should keep pretty much the system we have now with the Governor General (including the name) and simple make the position the head of state in fact, rather than a representative as it is now.

This can’t be serious. You have to be trolling. You would rather a head of state chosen by nothing other than being born into the role than one that is elected by popular vote?

Ah, it could have been President Rudd. Or Ray Martin. Or Andrew Bolt.

The monarchy has been around for a very long time for one reason, it works.

And the history of the English monarchy is that being born into it isn’t enough. As some found, make enough of a mess and the nobles/barons will gang up on you and force a Magna Carta (written by one and others forced to comply). Other kings were simply pushed aside – perhaps left on their thrones but with no real power until a better successor came along.

apparently it arrived on a truck this morning.

Is the Admiral’s Barge one of those pedal-boats with a flag on it? Just imagine…

LootenPlunder10:06 am 18 Oct 11

So many cynics. I think it’s a credit to them both to be taking such a demanding trip at their age! They’re still putting in the hard yards and we should do what it takes to welcome them as we would any visiting dignitary. Show her the respect she deserves. I just hope those tulips aren’t too disappointing…

Schmeah, I’ll happily admit to being in the under 25 age bracket and being a supporter of the monarchy. The younger generation (William, Harry, Kate et al) and their commitment to charity and military service and living relatively (note – relatively) normal lives has earned them a lot of respect. They’re good role models – a precious commodity in a time where most ‘celebrities’ in that age bracket are racking up criminal convictions and drug and alcohol abuse problems.

Everything you need to know about the royal visit. – pretty close – the only thing left to know is why

Is there anywhere that actually says what time the barge procession will occur – other than ‘be in place by 1030’? I can see the lake from my office block so (despite being a republican) am happy to spend 30 seconds looking out the window.

Personally, I reckon the Queen is a top chick, and I’m glad we have a bush capital to show her rather than some infilled monstrosity.

Cheap said :

This can’t be serious. You have to be trolling. You would rather a head of state chosen by nothing other than being born into the role than one that is elected by popular vote?

Popular vote would ensure something like President Mercedes Corby, The only other option is a two-third majority of Parliament agreeing on a choice. i lost faith in that process when a poll of federal politicians during the Keating government came up with President Ernie Dingo as the preferred choice.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

I’m a Republican AND am looking forward to seeing the Queen when she comes to visit.

Cheap said :

I wonder if the ACT School Book Depository has a good view of the lake…

Grassy Knolls galore along Yarramundi Reach.

I think we should run a raffle at, say, $20 per ticket. The winner gets to be Queen of Australia for a year. It’d pay for itself.

I-filed said :

IMO the Republican movement has always been driven by sectarian Irish Catholics with a chip on their shoulder … I’d rather the Queen as head of state any day than the winner of a popularity contest or someone chosen by the pollies …

This can’t be serious. You have to be trolling. You would rather a head of state chosen by nothing other than being born into the role than one that is elected by popular vote?

Bring on the Queen! Better pay for her and seal off public landmarks for her than for Dictators and Pop stars. I am proud of our British beginnings – Australia is a great evolution of England culture. I would love to see the Queen here – and on another matter the revival of british, Georgean, gothic archetectures here in Australia and Canberra.

I am still proud to be Australian with English roots.

IMO the Republican movement has always been driven by sectarian Irish Catholics with a chip on their shoulder … I’d rather the Queen as head of state any day than the winner of a popularity contest or someone chosen by the pollies …

1. I get really tired of hearing people go “how much will this cost?” At the end of the day, we could have a President, like Eddie Maguire, or Steve Vizard, or some other complete lowlife, and we could pay the millions and millions of dollars that it would cost to support them in their role. On the whole, the Queen is a eminent figure who had served this country (and 16 others well). I don’t care how much it costs. A lot of people will turn up to see her in Australia, and it will make a lot of people happy to see her. Stop being a killjoy.

2. Republicanism is getting more amusing by the day. Had a good look at the republican movement in Australia at uni – stats speak for themselves – the most ardent republicans are over 40 years of age, with the level of republicanism going up as the age goes up to about 65, then it drops off again. There are quite a few young republicans, but the most ardent monarchists are people aged between 18 and 30, and with every year more and more come on line. I think that says for now, the monarchy is here to say.

Ok firstly, as much as I can’t stand him, I would rather have Eddie Maguire be President in the place of someone who came into their position through no other means, other than their birth. It’s modern day, sanctioned elitism that privileges a birth right that no one else can ever challenge. Wrong.

Secondly, have you actually ever been to a meeting of the ARM? The average age of the ARM member is 40-65 and older, seriously? Not true. I’m 28, a card-carrying ARM member and have actually been to meetings and can guarantee the average age of people in the room was probably closer to 35. Sure, there were some boomers thrown in the mix, but most attendees were rank and file generation Xers and Ys.

And lastly, any system that 1) bestows entitlement on no other grounds than birth 2) functionally discriminates against women and catholics (and other religions) and 3) lumps the British taxpayer to with an exorbitant wedding while around 1/3rd of their public workforce is being laid off is absolutely an embarrassment. The only people who think it isn’t are aged over 80 and still cling to their long-gone British passports and probably engage in a bit of nepotism themselves.

I’m sure HM the Q is a nice lady, but overall, I’d prefer she stayed away from us. The sooner we become a republic the better. This is starting to look ridiculous

We paid a s***load for a bunch of Chinese goons to run roughshod over the city, why not for the Queen of Australia?

Republic sentiments or not, we are still part of the Commonwealth, and even if we weren’t then we’d still be paying for the security if they visited. No different from Obama, Bush, or any important figure.

I don’t think we should’ve paid a penny for goons of any variety to come here. And I’m quite happy for her to be the Queen of England, and anywhere else that wants her to be their Queen. I would just prefer that she not be the Queen of Australia, and that she stays where she is and not come here.

Bobert said :

Two points:

1. I get really tired of hearing people go “how much will this cost?” At the end of the day, we could have a President, like Eddie Maguire, or Steve Vizard, or some other complete lowlife, and we could pay the millions and millions of dollars that it would cost to support them in their role. On the whole, the Queen is a eminent figure who had served this country (and 16 others well). I don’t care how much it costs. A lot of people will turn up to see her in Australia, and it will make a lot of people happy to see her. Stop being a killjoy.

2. Republicanism is getting more amusing by the day. Had a good look at the republican movement in Australia at uni – stats speak for themselves – the most ardent republicans are over 40 years of age, with the level of republicanism going up as the age goes up to about 65, then it drops off again. There are quite a few young republicans, but the most ardent monarchists are people aged between 18 and 30, and with every year more and more come on line. I think that says for now, the monarchy is here to say.

A final point (I know, I said 2, sorry). I don’t understand this argument that we are an embarrassment. I have traveled all over the world and I have seen nothing but respect for Australia. And I think the only people that really think about QE2 as being Queen are the republicans in Australia. I was quite interested in the republican debate when I was younger, and I was particularly interested in what the rest of the world thought of us – nobody I ever met thought of us as being subservient to Britain except Australian republicans.

At the end of the day, the Queen is a citizen of a foreign country that is on the other side of the planet, and who doesn’t give a rats arse about the people of Australia, beyond the fact that they fund very occasional jollies over here for her, her hubby and her retinue. The Queen represents England first, and Australia last and that’s the truth of it. And if you were to study the deployment of Australian troops during WW2 when we were being threatened by the Japanese, you’d quickly come to realise what that means in reality. We owe the poms nothing, and the sooner we sever this loony relationship with them, the better off we’ll be.

If we’re gonna pay millions for a complete waste of space, I’d rather the money was devoted to an Australian waste of space.

This may be stating the obvious, but describing the views of those you disagree with as “amusing” isn’t an argument, and doesn’t add anything to the discussion. It does make you look like a pompous prat, though.

If her visit to Australia makes a lot of people happy, well, good on ’em. Bread and circuses for the dimwitted, etc.

And finally, I don’t think that we as a country, a nation or a people are embarrassing to anybody. What I meant was that having this nice old foreigner as our head of state is embarrassing. At least to me.

Chip said :

A cheap quip indeed – and cringe worthy. In other circumstances it may be funny perhaps but I reckon QE2 has been great. She is not responsible for the history of our country, nor for the history of her own country that thrust her into the job. She has been friendly, fair, intelligent and hardworking. It would be no surprise if her approval rating amongst Australians was higher than that of any of our pollies or any candidates for president. Like a lot of republicans, I think that trying to speed the inevitable move to a republic would be unnecessary and unseemly while she remains on the throne. I hope her trip goes well.

Not sure if you’re responding to me, but you may have missed my point a little bit…

LSWCHP said :

I’d really like to know how much, if anything, this is this going to cost the people of the ACT. I can’t imagine the security and all the other logistical infrastructure will be funded by HM, so where is the coin coming from?

I’m sure HM the Q is a nice lady, but overall, I’d prefer she stayed away from us. The sooner we become a republic the better. This is starting to look ridiculous.

I’d be more concerned about how much they are spending on the visit of Mary Donaldson from Tasmania – now Danish Princess Mary. She will be in Canberra on a “trade visit” … like, Danish trade … and we’re picking up the tab!

LSWCHP said :

I’d really like to know how much, if anything, this is this going to cost the people of the ACT. I can’t imagine the security and all the other logistical infrastructure will be funded by HM, so where is the coin coming from?

I’m sure HM the Q is a nice lady, but overall, I’d prefer she stayed away from us. The sooner we become a republic the better. This is starting to look ridiculous.

How would it be any different if we were a republic? The infrastructure for a Formal Head of State visits are largely funded by the host country, no matter where the Head of State comes from.

So we pay for the visit whether it is the Sultan of Brunei, the Queen of Australia or the President of Uzbekistan who is visiting.

And even if we became a republic I doubt that we would leave the Commonwealth. As the head of the Commonwealth the reigning monarch, be it Queen Liz, King Charles or King William will still visit.

Just doing the math, Queenie is 85 and the Dukester is 90! No rest days on the itinerary…. assuming a bit of jet lag, and their age, totally amazing!

She was home the day I visited her house in London because the flag was up at Buckingham Palace, but she didn’t invite me in for a cuppa. I shan’t hold that against her and am happy to lay out a spread (tea bags and scotch finger biscuits) if she wants to check out the burbs of Canberra. Perhaps she can lay that old chestnut to rest about whether the north side of the south side is the place to be…..

P.S. I don’t have a flag I can put up to indicate I’m home, but I can leave a light on.

Two points:

1. I get really tired of hearing people go “how much will this cost?” At the end of the day, we could have a President, like Eddie Maguire, or Steve Vizard, or some other complete lowlife, and we could pay the millions and millions of dollars that it would cost to support them in their role. On the whole, the Queen is a eminent figure who had served this country (and 16 others well). I don’t care how much it costs. A lot of people will turn up to see her in Australia, and it will make a lot of people happy to see her. Stop being a killjoy.

2. Republicanism is getting more amusing by the day. Had a good look at the republican movement in Australia at uni – stats speak for themselves – the most ardent republicans are over 40 years of age, with the level of republicanism going up as the age goes up to about 65, then it drops off again. There are quite a few young republicans, but the most ardent monarchists are people aged between 18 and 30, and with every year more and more come on line. I think that says for now, the monarchy is here to say.

A final point (I know, I said 2, sorry). I don’t understand this argument that we are an embarrassment. I have traveled all over the world and I have seen nothing but respect for Australia. And I think the only people that really think about QE2 as being Queen are the republicans in Australia. I was quite interested in the republican debate when I was younger, and I was particularly interested in what the rest of the world thought of us – nobody I ever met thought of us as being subservient to Britain except Australian republicans.

I’d really like to know how much, if anything, this is this going to cost the people of the ACT. I can’t imagine the security and all the other logistical infrastructure will be funded by HM, so where is the coin coming from?

I’m sure HM the Q is a nice lady, but overall, I’d prefer she stayed away from us. The sooner we become a republic the better. This is starting to look ridiculous.

Waiting For Godot2:47 pm 17 Oct 11

Damn Queen and Obama. Because of them Gillard’s execution has had to be postponed. But like Howard during APEC the numbers will be tallied up. I don’t think a phone call from Timmy will be enough to stop the inevitable this time around.

A cheap quip indeed – and cringe worthy. In other circumstances it may be funny perhaps but I reckon QE2 has been great. She is not responsible for the history of our country, nor for the history of her own country that thrust her into the job. She has been friendly, fair, intelligent and hardworking. It would be no surprise if her approval rating amongst Australians was higher than that of any of our pollies or any candidates for president. Like a lot of republicans, I think that trying to speed the inevitable move to a republic would be unnecessary and unseemly while she remains on the throne. I hope her trip goes well.

Nothing in there about other lake uses. I assume the rat patrol will have the flotilla out in support?

I wonder if the ACT School Book Depository has a good view of the lake…

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