Australia’s Access to The Queen’s Correspondence

Is This Long Saga Resolved?

Authors

  • Dr Steven Stern Victoria University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15209/vulj.v10i1.1201

Abstract

A recent High Court decision has established that the secrecy of Royal correspondence is subject to an Act which regulates public access to Commonwealth records. Communications between The Queen and her Australian Governor-General between 1974 and 1977 are now accessible. Other relevant Royal correspondence may continue to be secret where not prohibited by an Act. Based on what has become accessible, The Queen had no direct part in the Governor-General’s dismissal of the Australian Government on 11 November 1975. However, the Royal Household played an important part leading to the Governor-General actions on 11 November 1975. These actions were inconsistent with the constitutional requirements codified at the latest in 1926. Australia’s future republican status inevitably is posed.

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Published

01-11-2021

How to Cite

Stern , S. . (2021) “Australia’s Access to The Queen’s Correspondence: Is This Long Saga Resolved?”, Victoria University Law and Justice Journal. Melbourne, Australia, 10(1), pp. 25–49. doi: 10.15209/vulj.v10i1.1201.

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2021)

Section

Article

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