Monarchist Push For Official House

Sun Herald

Sunday February 11, 2007

By ALEX MITCHELL STATE POLITICAL EDITOR

MONARCHISTS have launched a pre-election campaign demanding that the next NSW Governor live at Government House, the grand 19th century residence in Macquarie Street overlooking Sydney Harbour.

The state's two most recent governors - Gordon Samuels and Professor Marie Bashir - have lived at their private homes and attended Government House for ceremonial occasions only.

Australians for Constitutional Monarchy national convenor Professor David Flint said political parties, sitting MPs and candidates for next month's state election would be asked to say whether they supported the Governor returning to live at Government House or not.

"We believe it should be an active issue in the election campaign," he said.

Former premier Bob Carr's decision to remove governors from residing at Government house was "one of the most unpopular decisions he ever made", Professor Flint said.

"Mr Carr's decree shocked Australia, it shocked his party and it even shocked his cabinet because he'd kept them in the dark.

"Mr Carr indicated that his decision to evict governors from Government House was to bring the Governor closer to the people and to save money - $2 million a year.

"But costs have spiralled, Government House is no more accessible than before, and anyone who does not have a house in Sydney can never be made Governor."

Professor Flint said Mr Carr was always ready to use Government House for a photo opportunity - but that he was determined to "diminish the office, and to neuter or at least weaken any discretionary power the Governor might have".

Recalling the sacking of Labor premier Jack Lang by Governor Philip Game in 1932, Professor Flint said that when Mr Carr announced the private home arrangements for Governor Samuels in 1996 he quipped at the press conference: "That's one for Jack Lang."

Premier Morris Iemma has indicated he will keep the current arrangements for governors but Opposition Leader Peter Debnam said the Coalition would reopen Government House as the Governor's official residence.

A compromise being considered is to refurnish a cottage in the grounds to use as the Governor's home.