Polar winds, rain and snow aside, most of Australia is going to appreciate today’s public holiday and give little thought to the reason behind it. I’m going to ruin that a bit by stating categorically that it is a ridiculous and embarrassing holiday.

While the US is approaching 250 years of independence, Australia still pauses to celebrate the birthday of a British king, flouncing around in ceremonial garb like the petulant George III in the Broadway hit Hamilton. Only he’s not singing “You’ll be back” because we never really left!

King Charles’ inherited superiority is the opposite of equality.Credit: AP

For a long time, supporters of an Australian republic spoke with dewy eyes of the day King Charles would finally supersede his mother – convinced that the very sight of the perpetual English prince as king would kick-start the movement once more, and propel Australia relentlessly away from its British colonial past. That has not occurred.

That was another time and place – when there was less to distract us from reality, and more vigorous debate about Australia’s history, values, and future. Nowadays, any reference to national debate is condemned as elite tut-tutting.

On Australia Day this year, journalist David Penberthy condemned those who questioned the appropriateness of the date as “haranguing” the vast majority who just want to “sit around and have a couple of quiet ones”. He might be right, but........

© Brisbane Times