Some advocates of monarchy have jumped on the film The King's Speech as evidence that Australia needs a monarch. Monarchists often argue like this when they want to personalise the constitutional debate by concentrating on a member of the Royal family with attractive features.
An important difference between republicans and monarchists is that republicans believe that individual virtues like humanity and service are widespread throughout the community. Monarchists on the other hand see such virtues concentrated especially in monarchs and Royal families. That is why republicans believe in democracy and campaign for more democratic political structures, while monarchists frequently talk of the magic of monarchy.
Neil Brown, writing the cover story of a recent issue of the Australian edition of The Spectator, claims that the evident humanity and commitment to service of King George VI, played by Colin Firth, will be a knockout blow in any future referendum on an Australian republic. Indeed he suggests that the NO case should send a DVD of the film to every household to guarantee victory for the monarchy.
Monarchs and members of Royal families can be humane, brave and/or dedicated to service. Of course they can. But so can many or even most people. We see it demonstrated around Australia every day, not least in the generosity of spirit shown in the current crises.
Republicans believe in the sovereignty of people and in their virtues. We don't believe that members of the Royal Family, whether it is Princess Anne in her speech in February 2009 at the Victorian bushfires memorial service (extravagantly praised by Brown as far superior to anything else that day) or Prince William, to name just two, have special features not found among the Australian community, including our elected representatives.
He compares Kevin Rudd, then Prime Minister, and John Brumby, then Victorian Premier, most unfavourably with Princess Anne. This criticism of elected representatives is not just a partisan shot by a former federal minister and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, but is rooted in a belief that Royal personages are superior people.
Humanity is a good thing wherever it is found. Of course it is. George VI demonstrates plenty of it in his valiant struggles, under the tutelage of the Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue, to overcome his stammer so that he can fulfill his public duties. But no amount of humanity in any member of the Royal family should counter the arguments in favour of Australia becoming a republic.
Those arguments do not