Melbourne: A decision to dump the British
Queen from legal proceedings of an Australian state, just days
before Prince William arrives on a visit, has sparked a row
amid concerns that it could be part of a growing trend towards
republicanism in the country.
"Having cases presented in the name of the Queen of
England is an outdated colonial tradition that has really
passed its use-by date," said avowed republican Rob Hulls, the
Victoria`s attorney-general and acting Labour premier.
From the beginning of next, all criminal court cases
in Victoria will be brought in the name of the director of
public prosecutions instead of the monarch as traditionally.
Announcing the change, just days before Prince William
arrives in Australia, Hulls said Victoria will dump the
British monarch from all legal proceedings.
"Substituting the director of public prosecutions for
the Queen or Regina reflects the legal and political
independence from the United Kingdom and its monarch that has
been achieved by Australia," he was quoted as saying by the
Daily Telegraph newspaper today.
Though he denied that the change was a snub to the
young prince, the landmark decision has fuelled concerns that
it "yet another example of creeping republicanism" in the
country.
The move follows two previous controversial changes to
Victoria`s legal system, scrapping the title Queen`s Counsel
and ending a requirement for new lawyers to swear an oath of
allegiance to the Queen, the report said.
PTI
