Can a State Governor refuse to issue a Senate election writ?

Описание: This video explains why the Australian States, including State Governors, are involved in elections for the Commonwealth Senate in Australia. It looks at the history of the drafting of the Commonwealth Constitution in relation to the composition of the Senate, and its connection with the US Constitution, prior to the ratification of the 17th amendment.

The video explains the role of the State Governor in issuing the election writs, including the High Court's conclusion that the State Governor acts in a State capacity, rather than as a Commonwealth officer, in exercising his or her powers in relation to Senate elections.

It provides two examples of controversies concerning election writs. The first is the 'night of the long prawns' which was discussed in a previous video (   • The Night of the Long Prawns - Senate mani...  ).

The second example concerns the speculation that if Prime Minister Whitlam called a half-Senate election in November 1975, the Premiers of two States would advise their Governors to refrain from issuing the election writs. The video draws on UK government files which discussed the constitutional position and British fears that the Queen would be drawn into this Australian domestic constitutional controversy.