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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| New governor general in Australia | New governor general in Australia |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Australia has sworn in its first female governor general, Queen Elizabeth's representative to the country. | Australia has sworn in its first female governor general, Queen Elizabeth's representative to the country. |
| The appointment of Quentin Bryce is also seen as significant because many Australians hope she will be the last governor general. | The appointment of Quentin Bryce is also seen as significant because many Australians hope she will be the last governor general. |
| By the end of her five-year term, they hope, the country will have become a republic with an Australian as head of state, rather than the British monarch. | By the end of her five-year term, they hope, the country will have become a republic with an Australian as head of state, rather than the British monarch. |
| PM Kevin Rudd is a republican and so too is Quentin Bryce herself. | PM Kevin Rudd is a republican and so too is Quentin Bryce herself. |
| Republican debate | Republican debate |
| This is an important "female first" in Australian history, for never before has a woman been appointed as the governor general. Advertisement | |
| Quentin Bryce: 'I promise to be open and responsive' | |
| Ms Bryce has enjoyed a successful career in law, was once the country's sex discrimination commissioner and has served for the past five years as the governor of the state of Queensland. | Ms Bryce has enjoyed a successful career in law, was once the country's sex discrimination commissioner and has served for the past five years as the governor of the state of Queensland. |
| She is thought to be a republican - that is to say she would like to see an Australian head of state, rather than the present constitutional arrangement, where Queen Elizabeth occupies that role. | She is thought to be a republican - that is to say she would like to see an Australian head of state, rather than the present constitutional arrangement, where Queen Elizabeth occupies that role. |
| Since her appointment she has kept her views on the subject to herself, and is not likely to use her new position to champion the republican cause. | Since her appointment she has kept her views on the subject to herself, and is not likely to use her new position to champion the republican cause. |
| But Mr Rudd, who recommended her appointment, is a public advocate of an Australian head of state, and has spoken about accelerating the republican debate during his term in office. | But Mr Rudd, who recommended her appointment, is a public advocate of an Australian head of state, and has spoken about accelerating the republican debate during his term in office. |
| In 1999, Australians voted in a referendum to keep the monarchy. | In 1999, Australians voted in a referendum to keep the monarchy. |
| But republicans claimed that voters did not like the idea of parliament selecting the president, which is what they were being offered, and wanted to do so themselves. | But republicans claimed that voters did not like the idea of parliament selecting the president, which is what they were being offered, and wanted to do so themselves. |