§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he gave Her Majesty the Queen concerning the term of office of the Governor of Queensland; and what is the locus standi of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom in tendering such advice.
§ Mr. CroslandIt would be improper to reveal details of advice about the appointment of Australian State Governors given by the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary to Her Majesty the Queen.
United Kingdom Ministers are at present responsible for advising Her Majesty the Queen on certain matters affecting the Australian States, including the appointment of State Governors. In discharging this duty, no United Kingdom Minister of any party is in any way influenced by party considerations or pressures. This responsibility is a direct consequence of the established Australian constitutional position. Its continued existence does not mean that United Kingdom Ministers wish to retain any responsibilities which are regarded as anachronistic by those concerned. The United Kingdom Government's general position in relation to Australian constitutional problems, namely that they regard them as essentially matters for resolution by Australians in Australia, has been publicly made clear on many occasions.
The United Kingdom Government have noted the statement in the Australian Parliament on 7th December by Mr. Fraser, the Australian Prime Minister, about this question. Mr. Fraser said 119W that in the view of his Government the appropriate means of communication with the Queen is the Commonwealth Government, and that if the State Governments wish to change the present arrangements to give effect to this the Commonwealth Government would be willing to assist them.
The United Kingdom Government for their part would not stand in the way of any changes that command the agreement of all concerned in Australia.