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 july utc