Riley: 1, Governor-General: Nil

I originally started this blog with the idea of reprinting some of my rants for public consumption, including older ones, so I thought I'd go back to the future and find a few of my golden oldies (incidentally, also the name of my boxer shorts). This one below is actually one of my favourites.
You see, a few years ago (and you may not remember this), Australia joined with a few other countries in invading Iraq. I know every man and his dog-hawk are piping up with claims that they knew this would be a fiasco long before everyone else, but, like, I totally knew this would be a fiasco before everyone else.
I was quite involved in the anti-war efforts, and one thing I did was send an e-mail to the Governor-General of Australia, which sparked an exchange. This is what started it:

-----Original Message-----
From: Riley Jones
Sent: Wednesday, 15 January 2003 17:38
To: governor-general@gg.gov.au
Subject: The War on Iraq

Dear Sir

I have just CC’d you on an e-mail I sent to every Liberal and National politician sitting in the Australian Parliament as well as the other leaders of the major parties. I feel very strongly about this issue and believe that the politicians who represent ordinary Australians need to know how we feel about our government lying to us and, potentially, sending Australian citizens off to die in a war for American oil interests.

I urge you to read the article by Scott Burchill and to use your powers as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces to stop this lunacy. The Governor General has great power and with that comes great responsibility. I hate to say it, but if you do not act, it is the same as pulling the trigger.

Thanks for your time.

Yours faithfully

Riley Jones

PS I have also attached a document detailing the countries that have acted in contravention of UN resolutions, other than Iraq.

Do you like the Spiderman reference? By the by, the article by Scott Burchill I was referring to was "Counterspin: Pro-war mythology" (originally published 14 Jan 2003).
I then received this reply:

-----Original Message-----
From: Government House [mailto:governor-general@gg.gov.au]
Sent: Monday, 20 January 2003 4:14 PM
To: Riley Jones
Subject: RE: The War on Iraq

Dear Mr Jones

Thank you for your e-mails of 15 January 2003 to the Governor-General expressing your concerns about the possibility of Australia’s involvement in war in Iraq.

Dr Hollingworth appreciates the time and trouble you have taken writing to him about your views.

In relation to your reference to the Governor-General and the armed forces, his role as Commander-In Chief is largely ceremonial or “titular.”

Dr Hollingworth shares the widespread hope that the issues involving Iraq can be resolved through peaceful means. Any decision on the commitment of Australian Forces to the War on Terrorism is, however, under Australian constitutional arrangements, a matter for decision by the elected government of the day.

Yours sincerely

Kevin Davidson

Senior Adviser to the Governor-General

So I opened up a can of Constitution-Ass:

-----Original Message-----
From: Riley Jones
Sent: Monday, 20 January 2003 16:49
To: Government House
Subject: RE: The War on Iraq

Dear Mr Davidson

Thankyou for your reply to my letter and I am pleased to hear that Dr Hollingworth took the time to consider my views. I am also pleased to hear that he hopes that the “issues involving Iraq” can be resolved by peaceful means. I would be even more pleased if he was to make this view public.

With regard to your reply, while I appreciate that the Governor-general’s role is seen as being ceremonial or titular, being a lawyer and having studied constitutional law, I know that is not what our constitution states.

Section 68 of the constitution states: “The command in chief of the naval and military forces of the Commonwealth is vested in the Governor-General as the Queen's representative.”

The government, that is, the party with a majority of seats in the House of representatives, has the power to make laws with respect to “The naval and military defence of the Commonwealth and of the several States, and the control of the forces to execute and maintain the laws of the Commonwealth“ under section 51(vi) of the Constitution.

The executive powers of the government are then exercised by the governor-general and her majesty’s ministers, as enunciated in section 61 of the consititution: “The executive power of the Commonwealth is vested in the Queen and is exercisable by the Governor-General as the Queen's representative, and extends to the execution and maintenance of this Constitution, and of the laws of the Commonwealth.”

Clearly the legislators who drafted the constitution did not see the Governor-General’s role as merely ceremonial, whatever today’s politicians may try to lead us to believe. We can also see that the military forces of our “ally”, the United States, are being directed by our Governor-General’s counterpart – President Bush. Just because tradition dictates that the Governor-General should not use his (or her) power, does not mean that the power does not exist. 1975 taught that to us all.

I would like to reiterate my request to the Governor-General to use his powers on behalf of the Australian people to save us from the actions of a government that appears intent on placing us all in danger.

Thanks again for your time.

Yours faithfully

Riley Jones

What a smarmy bastard that Riley guy is.
And did I win him over? Well...not exactly:

-----Original Message-----
From: Government House [mailto:governor-general@gg.gov.au]
Sent: Friday, 24 January 2003 1:25 PM
To: Riley Jones
Subject: RE: The War on Iraq

Dear Mr Jones

Thank you for your e-mail of 20 January 2003. I can only reiterate my previous advice that decisions on the Contingent deployment of members of the Australian Defence Force is a matter for the elected government of the day.

Yours sincerely

Kevin Davidson

Senior Adviser to the Governor-General

Oh really?
The final reply from Riley, to the Governor-General of Australia, the representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II:

Whatever.

Oh yes. The Governor-General felt the burn that day.

Epilogue:
Of course, my efforts were all wasted (unless you've enjoyed this exchange right now in the present day, and I suspect you haven't): Australia invaded Iraq, no WMDs were found, our troops are still there, and Peter Hollingworth resigned under a sex scandal cloud (possibly the worst kind of cloud) a couple of months later.
Still, I regard it as a win.

BAM!!