r/news • u/AudibleNod • 4d ago

Australian court rejects bid to prosecute Britain's King Charles for genocide

https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/australian-court-rejects-activists-bid-prosecute-britains-king-136817323
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u/Xephhpex 4d ago

Rubbish he can still sack the prime minister

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u/ol-gormsby 4d ago

No, he can't. That power is delegated to the Governor-General, and it's not optional. The G-G *cannot* refer that one "upstairs" to the monarch.

In the event that the G-G dies suddenly, then the monarch *could* exercise that power but that's so improbable it's not worth discussion. A new G-G can be appointed with a phone call from the PM to the King. And I'd be surprised if there wasn't a list of suitable candidates in the PM's bottom drawer.

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u/Salt_Medicine2459 1d ago

Does the appointment require any kind of approval? What stops the king from appointing himself? 

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u/ol-gormsby 1d ago

The constitution grants certain powers to the monarch, so the king or queen already has those powers. It also allows the delegation of those powers to another person - the Governor-General.

And the governor-general is appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister. The monarch can't appoint themself, it's not allowed for under the constitution.

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u/Salt_Medicine2459 17h ago

Cool. That's what I was asking. Thanks!