Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Australia for 15th visit
{{date|March 13, 2006}}
[[Image:Queen Elisabeth II.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Queen Elizabeth II]]
[[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] and {{w|Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Phillip}} arrived in [[Australia]] yesterday for a five-day tour which includes the opening of the 2006 [[Commonwealth Games]] in [[Melbourne]], the Queen's 15th visit of her reign and her first since 2002.

Their tour began when they landed at Fairburn Air Force Base in [[Canberra]] where they received a state welcome, attended by {{w|Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister}} [[John Howard]], {{w|Governor General of Australia|Governor-General}} Major General {{w|Michael Jeffery|Michael Jeffery}} and several hundred well-wishers. The couple accepted flowers and chatted with the crowd for a few minutes before being driven off in a black Rolls Royce.

The Queen and Prince Philip spent last night at Government House before beginning official duties in [[Sydney]] today. In Sydney, they will officially open the new colonnade of [[Sydney Opera House]] and receive a 21 gun salute.

Republican campaigners have used the occasion as an opportunity to reopen the republican debate.

"While the queen is held in great affection by the Australian people, many Australians recognize that it is no longer sensible for us to have a citizen of another country, who visits Australia only occasionally, as our head of state," said Allison Henry, national director of the Australian Republican Movement.

{{haveyoursay}}
==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.newswire.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=306607&catid=16
|title=Australia's royal visit
|author=
|pub=Newswire NZ
|date=March 12, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/queen.downunder.ap/
|title=Royal visit sparks republic debate
|author=[[Associated Press|AP]]
|pub=CNN
|date=March 12, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=988424ef-fe54-438d-9cf1-68eefb86d9b5&k=6937
|title=Queen arrives in Australia on state visit
|author=
|pub=Canadian Press
|date=March 12, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1589572.htm
|title=Queen Elizabeth lands in Australia
|author=
|pub=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
|date=March 12, 2006}}
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[[Category: Australia]]
[[Category: Oceania]]
[[Category: Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category: Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Sydney]]
[[Category:Canberra]]
[[Category:Australian Capital Territory]]
[[Category:New South Wales]]
[[Category:Sydney Opera House]]
[[Category:Queen Elizabeth II]]
[[Category:Royalty]]
[[Category:John Howard]]
[[Category:Melbourne]]
[[Category:Victoria, Australia]]

[[sv:Drottning Elizabeth inledde femdagarsbesök i Australien]]
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip arrived in Australia yesterday for a five-day tour which includes the opening of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the Queen's 15th visit of her reign and her first since 2002.

Their tour began when they landed at Fairburn Air Force Base in Canberra where they received a state welcome, attended by Prime Minister John Howard, Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery and several hundred well-wishers. The couple accepted flowers and chatted with the crowd for a few minutes before being driven off in a black Rolls Royce.

The Queen and Prince Philip spent last night at Government House before beginning official duties in Sydney today. In Sydney, they will officially open the new colonnade of Sydney Opera House and receive a 21 gun salute.

Republican campaigners have used the occasion as an opportunity to reopen the republican debate.

"While the queen is held in great affection by the Australian people, many Australians recognize that it is no longer sensible for us to have a citizen of another country, who visits Australia only occasionally, as our head of state," said Allison Henry, national director of the Australian Republican Movement.
 Australia  Oceania  Politics and conflicts  Commonwealth Games Sydney Canberra Australian Capital Territory New South Wales Sydney Opera House Queen Elizabeth II Royalty John Howard Melbourne Victoria, Australia