Why Commonwealth instead of Dominion Based upon comparing the governments of the Dominion of Canada and the Commonwealth of Australia I don t really understand the differences The idea of a Commonwealth seems to compare directly with that of a Republic so if the Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Queen of Australia how can one style Australia a Commonwealth Would it not be a Dominion as is the case for Canada And would not the States of Australia likewise be provinces I honestly don t understand the differences between each of these and if someone could explain them to me it would be greatly appreciated 2 July 2005 03 19 UTC