Is Australia Independent?

Introduction There is no doubt that Australia did not gain independence after the proclamation of the Constitution in 1901. Some may argue that it has been obvious since following Britain into both World Wars. However Australia, through a gradual process, and after almost 100 years, has gained legal but not political independence. As long as there is a monarch of the UK, and of Australia and its states, there will always be connections. This paper will recognise …

…the Australia Act 1986 completed the process to obtaining an independent legal system. Australia still realised that political ties still existed with the existence of a Governor-General and the Queen as head of state and this resulted in the Republic Bill being established, and on November 6, 1999, the referendum failed. Australia still remains politically linked to the British Monarch, and while many Australians are happy with the current monarchy system, others still feel linked to the Crown.