Australian NSW MPs set to scrap oath of allegiance to Queen

SYDNEY - Australia's oldest parliament is set to scrap the requirement for its members to swear allegiance to the Queen when they are elected.

Instead, under a bill passed by the NSW Legislative Assembly today, MPs would pledge their allegiance to Australia and to the people of NSW.

The bill will now be debated in the state's upper house, where it is set to pass with the support of Greens and Australian Democrats MPs.

The debate on the bill came two days before the wedding of Australia's future king, Prince Charles, to Camilla Parker-Bowles.

NSW Premier Bob Carr said the people of NSW didn't "give a damn" whether MPs took an oath of allegiance to the Queen or not, but he would have preferred to take an oath of allegiance to the people of Australia when he was sworn into parliament.

"I don't think anyone gives a damn about it ... but I think the majority of people would support it, I don't think they would get passionate about it, I don't think they would wax lyrical about it," he told reporters.

"But I think faced with a choice, you'd have 90 percent of people of Australia say 'it's common sense'."

Opposition leader John Brogden said changing the oath was a waste of time because it would do nothing to improve the lives of the people of NSW.

He said the oath should remain the same until Australians voted to establish a republic.

Changes are also in the wind in South Australia and Queensland.

In South Australia, a bill which gives MPs the option of swearing allegiance to the state's people rather than the Queen passed through the lower house last July, but has yet to be debated by the upper house.

In Queensland, a parliamentary committee has recommended giving MPs the choice of whether or not to swear allegiance to the Queen.

Since 1995, members of the ACT Legislative Assembly have had the option of declaring their allegiance to the people of the ACT, instead of to the Queen.

Australian Republican Movement national director Allison Henry welcomed the change in NSW.

"We believe Australia's political representatives should be pledging an oath of allegiance to the Australian people who voted for them and whose interests they serve, not the British monarchy on the other side of the world," Ms Henry said.

Australians for A Constitutional Monarchy convenor David Flint said NSW MPs had failed to consult the public on the bill.

"They must ask the people first before they are allowed to abandon their oaths," Professor Flint said in a statement.

NSW Nationals leader Andrew Stoner expressed concern the bill did not require Bibles to be used when MPs took the new pledge.

"There's an optional section to say that you're taking the pledge under God, but there's no reference to the Bible," Mr Stoner told reporters.

The current oath for MPs in NSW is: "I, ... do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors according to law. So help me God."

But the new pledge would become: "Under God, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and the people of NSW".

The words "Under God" would be optional for MPs making the pledge.

West Australian MPs are due to debate a similar bill in this current parliamentary sitting.

If adopted it will remove the requirement that MPs and local councillors take an oath or make an affirmation of allegiance to the Queen.

- AAP