The Prime Minister has refused to answer questions on whether Australia should become a republic, despite professing her support for severing ties with the monarchy in the past.
Monarchists last night questioned Prime Minister Julia Gillard's decision not to curtsy the Queen when they met last night - but she would not be drawn on the republican debate.
"I think while the queen is here in Australia what Australians will be doing is enjoying and celebrating her presence here," she told reporters in Sydney shortly before the queen was due to arrive.
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"I believe she is very well respected by Australians and I think she's going to be tremendously, warmly received from the moment that she sets foot on Australian soil."
Queen Elizabeth II is in Australia to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Perth.
Cheers went up from those crowding the tarmac as the 85-year-old monarch descended the steps of a British Airways Boeing-777, flying her Australian royal standard, to be greeted by Governor-General Quentin Bryce.
Bryce, the monarchy's representative in Australia, presented the Queen to Gillard - the nation's first female leader and a sworn republican, who shook her hand but did not follow Bryce's lead and curtsy the head of state.
A spokesman told the Herald Sun that the PM acted with 'appropriate courtesy', but the paper quoted monarchist Matthew Archer, who was not so sure.
"I understand she thinks we should ditch the monarchy but it's just a sign of courtesy, it actually would be a sign of respect", Archer told the paper.
Gillard earlier said it would be an honour to welcome the queen and Prince Philip back to Australia.
"Visits by the queen are etched into the collective memory of the Australian people," Gillard said. "Many Australians can recall Her Majesty's previous visits as landmarks in their own lives."
None more so perhaps than former prime minister Paul Keating, who during a 1992 tour placed his hand on the back of the queen to help her through a Canberra crowd, outraging sections of the British press who dubbed him "The Lizard of Oz".
This visit is be much more low key and may well be her last official trip to Australia.
Republicans, who for decades have been agitating for a severing of ties with the British monarchy, said the latest visit provided a focal point for discussions about the nation's head of state.
"It really is time for a grown-up discussion about this,¨ Australian Republican Movement chair Mike Keating said.
"The British monarchy simply does not represent Australian values in 2011, and it's time for our elected representatives to stand up on this basic truth."
But support for a republic is ebbing, with a recent Roy Morgan survey showing support for ditching the monarchy at its lowest level in two decades.
According to the poll, only 34 percent of Australians support a republic - the lowest level since 1991 - while 55 percent want to keep the monarchy.
