<iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-K3L4M3" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">

Australian Notes

Australian notes

20 January 2018

9:00 AM

20 January 2018

9:00 AM

Memo to Republicans: Australia is not a colony

The fundamental difference between Australia as a ‘colony’ and every other colony of an imperial power is that Britain sent its own citizens (however unwilling) to establish it. Never mind the reasons, the important point in any talk about Australia becoming a republic is that New South Wales was established rather like parents bringing a child into the world, genetically if you like, complete with initial dependency, social customs, religion and governance in all things, including the law.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Black Friday sale

Subscribe today and get 10 weeks of The Spectator Australia for just $1

  • Unlimited access to spectator.com.au and app
  • The weekly edition on the Spectator Australia app
  • Spectator podcasts and newsletters
  • Full access to spectator.co.uk
Or

Unlock this article

REGISTER

You might disagree with half of it, but you’ll enjoy reading all of it. Try your first month for free, then just $2 a week for the remainder of your first year.


Comments

Black Friday sale

Subscribe today and get 10 weeks of The Spectator Australia for just $1

Already a subscriber? Log in

Close