We should not know the political positions of Victoria’s new governor Margaret Gardner

The political positions of the Governor of Victoria should not be known — Margaret Gardner’s open support of a republic is an outrageous breach of protocol.

Monash University’s vice-chancellor Margaret Gardner is Victoria’s new governor. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

As soon as a person has been accepted as the governor-designate for their state, it is imperative that they abide by the obligations of office.

Their privileged position requires them to leave any hint of politics behind.

As the independent constitutional umpire, and the protector of the people’s constitutional rights, any vestige of previous partisanship on any issue needs to be discarded.

Under our system of constitutional monarchy, fine-tuned over many centuries, the King is above politics and is an independent umpire protecting the constitutional rights of the people.

If prior to his coronation, King Charles had said that he supported a particular political party but would now be independent, the outrage would be heard across the Commonwealth with calls for him to abdicate.

King Charle III is an independent umpire protecting the constitutional rights of the people. Picture: Stefan Rousseau

Similarly, outrage is being heard around Australia because Monash University vice-chancellor Margaret Gardner broke all protocol by declaring that she was a republican following the announcement of her nomination as governor-designate of Victoria.

There is no difference.

A governor-general or a governor is more than the representative of the King, for he or she is the King in the country or in the respective state, and must always remain above politics and be totally impartial on any matter which may invite controversy.

In this manner a viceroy can have no private opinions for he or she speaks with the voice of the people as a whole.

Our late Queen was the embodiment of how a constitutional monarch should act.

It is an example that our governors should follow.

This is the strength of our constitutional system, which was drafted by Australians for Australians, and which has served Australia so very well over 100 years.

It is totally unlike any sort of republican system that Professor Gardner says she prefers, and it is to be hoped that in no way would she consider herself to be akin to a president of a republic, for that she is certainly not.

Upon her appointment, she will represent the Crown and her entire term must thereafter be dedicated to protecting the freedom and the democracy of her people whatever their politics, their religion or social standing.

Philip Benwell is chairman of the Australian Monarchist League