Personal Union
Personal Union: The Australian Crown is separate and independent from the Crowns of the other 15 Commonwealth Realms, but it is part of a historical legacy personal union. This concept dates back to the reign of George I to George IV, when a personal union united the Crowns of Great Britain and Hanover. Today, this historical connection is a key aspect of our very close relations with countries such as the UK, New Zealand, Canada, and Papua New Guinea.
In the 1980s and 1990s, there was a trend to downplay the links with the UK. A former prime minister, in a move that was seen as a departure from the norm, even gratuitously insulted the UK in the federal parliament. This action was particularly surprising given the UK's status as one of the world's leading economies, one of the most powerful military powers, a permanent member of the Security Council, a major European Union power, and its favourable disposition towards Australia. The personal union, which keeps us close to the countries closest to us, is not something we should lightly abandon.
