The moment Buckingham Palace notified the governor-general of the Queen’s death, a plan that had been in the works for years was set in motion. This plan has been passed from governor general to governor general, prime minister to prime minister, guided by the Palace, with precise details of what is going to happen in the next 15 days. Flags are already at half-mast. Parliament is in adjournment for 15 days – so the meeting scheduled for next week is adjourned. The Prime Minister’s and Cabinet’s website and the Governor-General’s website will change to an obituary format and contain information about events planned for Australia. For the next fortnight there will be books of condolence in Parliament, Government House and on the PM&C website. This afternoon, at dusk, there will be a gun salute, with one shot for each year of the Queen’s life, with an interval of 10 seconds between each. It’s the first day. There will be many more in the coming days. Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Government House in Melbourne during her tour of Australia in March 1954. Photo: Fox Photos/Getty Images Updated at 22.44 BST Important events Show only key events Please enable JavaScript to use this feature Tamsin Rose The Sydney Opera House and the New South Wales Parliament House are likely to feature in the Queen’s public memorials. The prime minister, Dominic Perrottet, on Friday morning said work was being done “with protocol” from early morning to plan a proper tribute. He said: We’ve been doing this since the early hours of the morning and obviously the usual area that comes up right away is Opera and we’re working very closely with the protocol to address all of these issues. We will do our best to pay tribute to a giant of history and someone who changed the world for the better. He told 2GB that details would be announced throughout the day. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II officially opens The Colonnade – a new western addition to the Opera House, Monday, March 13, 2005. Photo: Grant Turner/PR IMAGE Katharine Murphy It’s just after midnight in London. People still enter Buckingham Palace to pay their respects. Some people are in full evening dress. Wine is drunk from the bottle. There is a significant police presence, but the mood is somewhere between Skyfire (Canberra people will have this reference) and a funeral. People gather around the notice on the front fence and spill back into the forecourt. Lots of Londoners but also a large international contingent as you’d expect. There are already a significant number of floral tributes tied to the fence. Local TV crews flock into the crowd looking for vox pops. The media have set up en masse for live coverage. Queen Elizabeth II’s reign was so long that the first Australian coin on which was a “Florin” and I’ve literally never heard of it before pic.twitter.com/iYYGqiTTLw — Matt Bevan (@MatthewBevan) September 8, 2022 Greens leader Adam Budd called for Australia to become a democracy after the Queen’s death. Now, Australia must move on. We need the Treaty with the First Nations people and we need to become a Republic. Rest in Peace Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts are with her family and all who loved her. Now Australia must move on. We need the Treaty with the First Nations people and we need to become a Republic. — Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) September 8, 2022 Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pays tribute to the Queen Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has issued a more extensive statement on the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The Prime Minister says the Queen was “loved and respected and represented all that was dignified and positive about the Royal Family”. Her Majesty was a constant reminder of the true meaning of service, integrity and courage, and was admired around the world, especially here in Queensland. The Queen will be fondly remembered as the longest-reigning Commonwealth monarch, having succeeded to the throne on 6 February 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI. Nine months after Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey in London, she arrived in Brisbane on 9 March 1954 as the only reigning monarch to visit Queensland. Her Majesty stayed at Government House in Brisbane with Queensland Governor Sir John Lavarack and his wife Lady Sybil Lavarack and her busy itinerary also included regional visits to Bundaberg, Oakey, Toowoomba, Townsville, Cairns, Mackay , Rockhampton and the Great Barrier Reef. This was the first of 16 visits to Australia and eight to Queensland as The Queen. Queenslanders will be able to pay their respects through an online book of condolences, which will be presented to the royal family. Government House will make arrangements for the public wishing to pay their respects to the statue of Her Majesty the Queen on the Estate. Updated at 00.29 BST Natasha May “She was the people’s queen,” says former NSW premier Mike Baird Taking a quick coffee break, this reporter bumped into former NSW Premier Mike Baird queuing for his. It’s an incredibly sad day not only for the UK but for the world… Queen Elizabeth was an incredible leader. He had great passion for many causes but ultimately for people. I think she was the people’s queen. Like everyone else in Australia today, I feel incredibly sad. Probably the most lasting memory was 1988, the bicentennial. He felt that when the Queen came, the significance of 200 years was really palpable. Of Charles taking over, Baird said: He is a wonderful man and I think he will be a great king. Taking a quick coffee break, this reporter bumped into former NSW Premier Mike Baird queuing for his. “This is an incredibly sad day not just for the UK but for the world. Queen Elizabeth was an incredible leader. He had great passion for many reasons but ultimately for people.” pic.twitter.com/yQz3z1Ckhl — Natasha May (@natasha__may) September 8, 2022 Updated at 00.22 BST Title change for senior barristers of Australia An interesting change for Australia’s legal fraternity. Senior barristers who became ‘Queen’s Counsel’ or QC will now automatically become ‘King’s Counsel’ or KC. In some jurisdictions, including NSW and the ACT, lawyers have used the title “senior counsel” for some time. Confirming that Australian lawyers who were Queen’s Counsel are automatically King’s Counsel now. This is less of a problem in NSW where silks are now called Senior Counsel (SCs) – it will be a bigger change in Victoria and Queensland. Statements from @AustBarAssoc pic.twitter.com/TP3lwgKAUK — Michaela Whitbourn (@MWhitbourn) September 8, 2022 Updated at 00.19 BST Stephanie Convery “It meant a lot to a lot of people” Journalist Stephanie Convery has been speaking to people in Melbourne about the Queen’s death. Shane, walking along Collins St, said he was stunned to hear the news this morning. You always thought it would be close. Elliott and Brian were chatting about who is next in line for succession. Brian is surprised to read that it is Charles. I always thought we would have a monarch baby. Elliott said his reaction was “sad”, but for us in Australia, “nothing really changes”. Ken and Margaret, sitting in the morning sun on Bourke Street, said the news was terrible. Knowledge: It meant a lot to a lot of people, in good times and bad. Daisy: I bought Hello magazine every week to keep up with what was happening. I thought it was devastating. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip wave to the crowds as they are driven onto a pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as part of their tour of Australia on February 25, 1954. The crowd was made up mainly of ex-servicemen and war widows. Photo: Fox Photos/Getty Images Updated at 00.19 BST Josh Butler The flags in the Parliament are at half-mast Flags have been flown at half-mast in Parliament to mark the Queen’s death. The iconic large flag at the top of the building has been lowered, along with the numerous flags at the entrance to the forecourt. Condolences have already been set up inside and outside Parliament. On one placed inside the building’s marble entrance, a number of politicians including Andrew Wallace, Keith Pitt, Zoe Daniel, Sam Lim and Gordon Reid have already signed. Updated at 00.13 BST ‘How crazy’: social media reacts to news Australian parliament suspended for 15 days We reported earlier that Parliament in Australia will be suspended for 15 days following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This will allow time for the funeral, which will take place in 10 days, and for the prime minister and governor-general to travel to the UK. But the suspension of parliament has sparked widespread reactions on social media. I’m interested to know what people in the middle of the monarchist-republican spectrum think about shutting down the Australian parliament for 15 days. The staunch monarchists will probably say it should, the staunch republicans that it shouldn’t. What do the most constitutionally informed think? — Louise Milligan (@Milliganreports) September 8, 2022 Seriously? A memorial service and a day of national mourning seem entirely appropriate, but parliament does not need to be suspended for 15 days. — Alison J (@Alisoninlibrary) September 8, 2022 Updated at 00:00 BST Natasha May “It’s a real passing of a generation” On the streets of Sydney, more people are reacting to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Sarah Jordan says the Queen’s first visit to Australia when she was at primary school remains a “special memory”. She said she and her school friends made wreaths and flags before the visit. Jordan says: I think we should give [Charles] to go. I think he needs a chance to show us what he can do. Louise says she is “incredibly saddened by the loss of a beautiful, devoted monarch who…
