Queensland: the Forgotten State
Today more than 5.1 million Queenslanders will be acknowledging the ‘Birthday of the Sovereign’ – but the Queen and Buckingham Palace appear not to be aware about it at all.
The Queen’s official website indicates the date didn’t rate a mention at Buckingham Palace:
“The Queen’s birthday is celebrated in Australia as a public holiday. Except in the state of Western Australia, it is celebrated on the second Monday of June.”
Despite an entire day being set aside in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, Queensland’s tribute - the state named in honour of her great-great-grandmother - seems to have gone entirely unnoticed.
Queenslanders aren’t the only ones to have been ‘out of sight and out of mind.’ Norfolk Island acknowledged the Queen’s Birthday on 15 June (the third Monday, not second), those within 150km of Marble Bar in the Shire of East Pilbara acknowledged it on 6 July, the Town of Port Hedland and City of Karratha on 3 August and those within 150km of Newman in the Shire of East Pilbara on 17 August.
As the Royal website notes, her actual birthday is on 21 April – none of the days on which it is acknowledged in Australia.
National Director of the Australian Republic Movement (ARM) Sandy Biar said that it showed how ridiculous it was for Australia to have a head of state that lived on the other side of the world.
“The head of our country should be someone who lives here, is proud to be an Australian and is in touch with Australians.”
“Apparently more than 5.1 million Australians holding a day in the Queen’s honour still isn’t enough to get the attention of Buckingham Palace. It’s time the day was set aside to honour those who would truly appreciate it instead, such as our frontline service men and women and volunteers” Mr Biar said.
A recent YouGov poll in July 2020 found that 62% of Australians wanted an Australian as head of state instead of the Queen.
Media Contacts
Sandy Biar
National Director of the Australian Republic Movement
For Reference
Dates on which the Queen’s Birthday was acknowledged with a public holiday in Australia (2020):
· 8 June: NSW, VIC, SA, Tas, ACT, NT
· 15 June: Norfolk Island
· 6 July: those within 150km of Marble Bar in the Shire of East Pilbara
· 3 August: Town of Port Hedland and City of Karratha
· 17 August: those within 150km of Newman in the Shire of East Pilbara
· 28 September: Western Australia
· 5 October: Queensland
The Royal Family Website
(as of 2 October 2020)
