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Old 05-06-2008, 07:09 AM   #11 (permalink)
anya
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Originally Posted by PayingAttention View Post
She actually does, Javert, and she excercised it in Australia in the 1970s when she forced Gough Whitlam to call a general election when he refused to resign after a double dissolution.

She does not have the power to suspend parliament but she most certainly has the power to force a general election. If such power was questioned by the government of the day it would be enforced by the citizenry on her behalf.

Fortunately such a constititional disaster has not so far occurred.
That's an interesting point which hadn't really sunk in with me, despite all the rituals.

Australia just needs to find out whether it feels it benefits or not from having the queen.

I imagine you would be out of the Commonwealth if you got rid of her.
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