The Republic of Australia?

[Dunstan]

Australia's Governer-General Quentin Bryce backs Australia becoming a republic.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-22/g ... sm/5112020

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"Ms Bryce, delivering the final Boyer Lecture of the year on Friday night, said she hoped Australia might become a nation where "people are free to love and marry whom they choose". "And where perhaps, my friends, one day, one young girl or boy even grow up to be our nation's first head of state," she said."

So Quentin Bryce has stated the fact that Australia should become a republic.It is known that the Labour government supported a change to Republicanism. Kevin Rudd had vowed to make Australia a Republic when he was first voted in, in 2008 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... ublic.html). Julia Guillard also said she'd like to see Australia become a republic at the end of Elizabeth's reign. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... reign.html).

Tony Abbott, on the other hand, is a keen Monarchist and does not believe that Australia will become a republic during his lifetime. However, both the former Treasurer Wayne Swan, and former Liberal Party leader Malcolm Turnbull, came together to express their support Australia becoming a republic.

(http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nationa ... 6561895090)


" “The one thing that is not a good argument certainly not an effective argument for being a republic, is to turn it into a Pom-bashing, anti-British, anti-English, let alone anti-Royal family type of argument,” Mr Turnbull told ABC radio.

“It has to be a thoroughly pro-Australian argument.

“It's about saying: we rejoice in and revel in and love this country so much, and respect and love our fellow countrymen and women so much, that only one of them is good enough to be our head of state.”

In his column, Mr Swan said the Bodyline series left an impression on Australia's consciousness.

“I believe that reflecting on those events will eventually hasten the approach of an Australian republic, even if it has fallen from the national agenda over the past decade,” Mr Swan wrote.

“While England will always be our most respected cricketing foe, and among our very closest allies, I think our national conversation is sold short when it does not include a debate about our relationship with the Crown” "



I am still undecided on the possibility of Australia becoming a republic. I love my country, and I do wish to see it soar in the future, to see it lead by example, and for it to have a bigger positive impact on the world. But is becoming a republic the first step in Australia's development? I also have much respect and love, even, for Britain, it's people and it's government. I don't want a pro-republic debate to turn into an anti-english, anti-monarchist argument, or anything alike.

That said, I believe it is inevitable that some Australian's will see a republican movement as an attack on the British, and the royals in general. I don't want that to stain Britain's, or even the worlds view on Australia. So therefore I am in huge agreement with Mr Turnbull.

Tell me your opinions!

[Vitaphone Racing]

I'm not fussed either way, aside from the possibility of paying a slightly lesser tax rate or maybe seeing that money going to more visible use in Australia. Aside from that, I'm not seeing a pressing need for change right now.

Somebody needs to explain to me Why I Should Care^TM beyond our theoretical head of state not being Australian.

[Norstal]

One one hand it changes nothing except for increased nationalism and maybe experimentation with non-parliamentary democracy.

On the other hand it is one of the better suggestions recently in NSG. Not that it means much.

[Arglorand]

As an outsider and non-Australian, I can only say that I am generally opposed to monarchies. It's a matter of principle - no matter how ceremonial, but the head of state ought to be an ordinary citizen elected to the post because their people decided they were best. Not someone who simply inherited power.

But, in the end, it's up to the Aussies to decide.

[Dunstan]

I'm not fussed either way, aside from the possibility of paying a slightly lesser tax rate or maybe seeing that money going to more visible use in Australia. Aside from that, I'm not seeing a pressing need for change right now.

Somebody needs to explain to me Why I Should Care^TM beyond our theoretical head of state not being Australian.

What you said are the main reasons why I'm still undecided (also, I don't want to offend the British or turn a republican movement into a British-hating debate, as I said earlier).

[Quintium]

Why would they call a woman Quentin?

[Cetacea]

I'm not fussed either way, aside from the possibility of paying a slightly lesser tax rate or maybe seeing that money going to more visible use in Australia. Aside from that, I'm not seeing a pressing need for change right now.

Somebody needs to explain to me Why I Should Care^TM beyond our theoretical head of state not being Australian.

How does it save on tax rates? Australia will need to pay more for protection and travel of its own head of state than for the GG or Queen.

And the nature of the HoS is irrelevant to the impact of Oz on the world, it will still remain little America and too close to Asia for it to soar...

[The IASM]

No.

All your base are belongs to us.

[Ze Destroyers]

Can we get to the real issue here, we have Tony Freaking Abbott as our leader... the person who handles people problems and issues with civil rights is TONY FREAKING ABBOTT Please do send help, we really need it.

[Dunstan]

And the nature of the HoS is irrelevant to the impact of Oz on the world, it will still remain little America and too close to Asia for it to soar...

I disagree.

[Cetacea]

[quote="Cetacea";p]

And the nature of the HoS is irrelevant to the impact of Oz on the world, it will still remain little America and too close to Asia for it to soar...[/quote]


I disagree.[/quote]

Why?

[Old Tyrannia]

This, from a woman who swore to "be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and successors according to law, so help me God." Oathbreaker! Hypocrit! This woman isn't fit for the role she has been given.

Also, what's all this about loving their fellow countrymen and women so much that only one of them is worthy to be Head of State? I always suspected that the Australian republican movement had a fascistic streak. Besides which, the Her Majesty the Queen is an Australian in any legal sense, and I'd argue that she's culturally no different to the vast majority of Australians as well. She speaks English, is a Christian like the majority of Australians, probably shares most of the same values as most Australians and is the same ethnicity as most Australians for those who care about that sort of thing.

But hey, clearly she doesn't qualify as a member of the Australian Master Race. Heil Bryce!

[Arglorand]

This, from a woman who swore to "be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and successors according to law, so help me God." Oathbreaker! Hypocrit! This woman isn't fit for the role she has been given.

Also, what's all this about loving their fellow countrymen and women so much that only one of them is worthy to be Head of State? I always suspected that the Australian republican movement had a fascistic streak. Besides which, the Her Majesty the Queen is an Australian in any legal sense, and I'd argue that she's culturally no different to the vast majority of Australians as well. She speaks English, is a Christian like the majority of Australians, probably shares most of the same values as most Australians and is the same ethnicity as most Australians for those who care about that sort of thing.

But hey, clearly she doesn't qualify as a member of the Australian Master Race. Heil Bryce!

It's not fascistic at all. I wouldn't want my country's head of state to live abroad. It's not fascist at all, it's a legitimate request to have someone who lives here and understands the situation people live in be head of state.

Jesus, stop comparing everyone who disagrees with you to fascists.

[Old Tyrannia]

This, from a woman who swore to "be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and successors according to law, so help me God." Oathbreaker! Hypocrit! This woman isn't fit for the role she has been given.

Also, what's all this about loving their fellow countrymen and women so much that only one of them is worthy to be Head of State? I always suspected that the Australian republican movement had a fascistic streak. Besides which, the Her Majesty the Queen is an Australian in any legal sense, and I'd argue that she's culturally no different to the vast majority of Australians as well. She speaks English, is a Christian like the majority of Australians, probably shares most of the same values as most Australians and is the same ethnicity as most Australians for those who care about that sort of thing.

But hey, clearly she doesn't qualify as a member of the Australian Master Race. Heil Bryce!

It's not fascistic at all. I wouldn't want my country's head of state to live abroad. It's not fascist at all, it's a legitimate request to have someone who lives here and understands the situation people live in be head of state.

Jesus, stop comparing everyone who disagrees with you to fascists.

When was the last time before just then that I compared someone who disagreed with me to fascists?

I daresay Her Majesty understands the situation in Australia far better than you think.

[Neo-Achaemenid Empire (Ancient)]

Man, two awesome whammies in a single speech. You go Quentin Byrce, you go. I wish one day a GG of Canada takes a similar stance (on republicanism, not LGBT stuff since we already got that covered ).

[Albicia]

I'm not fussed either way, aside from the possibility of paying a slightly lesser tax rate or maybe seeing that money going to more visible use in Australia. Aside from that, I'm not seeing a pressing need for change right now.

Somebody needs to explain to me Why I Should Care^TM beyond our theoretical head of state not being Australian.

We would probably have more taxes. I'm sure a president would be more expensive than a GG. God Save our Commonwealth, and God Save the Quuen.

[Conservative Conservationists]

Quintin Bryce is completely unfit for her role.

She first took it when her son in law was a senior minister in the government. If here decision resulted in the removal of government, it would effect her daughter's and her granddaughter's financial well being. In a court, the judge needs to be above the preception of bias

To her credit, she did offer to resign when Bill Shorten became the leader of the Opposition, but where does this fine line exist? Its alright to remove an income source from your daughter when they are just a key play maker in government, but not when they are leading?

And now, at the end of her role, she is raising issues which by their nature are divisive when her role is to be a figurehead.

Still, she should either act professionally neutral and silent, or resign if she was not tied through family to an elected representative. The fact that she is means that she should have refused the position or at the very least chosen to resign when her son-in-law became leader of the opposition.

She is an example of why I dont want Australia to become a republic. Who knows what family relations will exist within government.
ps, I am in favor of the Gay Marriage.

[Conservative Conservationists]

Man, two awesome whammies in a single speech. You go Quentin Byrce, you go. I wish one day a GG of Canada takes a similar stance (on republicanism, not LGBT stuff since we already got that covered ).

And what if the GG, makes a stance that you do not support? The role is meant to be above politics and uniting, not opinionated.

[Murbleflip]

Yes, Australia should become a republic. One person, one vote for the head of state.
That person should be the Queen, and the Queen should be the one with the vote.

[Dunstan]

But hey, clearly she doesn't qualify as a member of the Australian Master Race. Heil Bryce!

How is a movement that supports simply voting for a head of state instead of it being inherited from a person on the other side of the world fascist? How is that supporting an "Australian Master Race"?

If we can vote for our head of government, why shouldn't we vote for a head of state?

[Vitaphone Racing]

I'm not fussed either way, aside from the possibility of paying a slightly lesser tax rate or maybe seeing that money going to more visible use in Australia. Aside from that, I'm not seeing a pressing need for change right now.

Somebody needs to explain to me Why I Should Care^TM beyond our theoretical head of state not being Australian.

How does it save on tax rates? Australia will need to pay more for protection and travel of its own head of state than for the GG or Queen.

Only if we adopt a president instead. Which I doubt we will, our parliamentary system works fine already. If we were to become a Republic, we'd probably replace the governor-general with another very similar position without the royal ties or replace them with some sort of council. Either way, neither option would require anymore security than what is provided now.

[Vitaphone Racing]

Quintin Bryce is completely unfit for her role.

You could have an IQ of 50 and still be fit for that role. The GG is a figurehead, the responsibilities they have are negligible.

[Cameroi]

well that's up to you guys who live there of course. pretty much six in one, half a dozen in the other to the rest of us.

i would imagine it to be inevitable sooner or latter. wouldn't expect it to visibly change very much.

[Olivaero]

Good luck to Australia if they do. Whilst I generally support the Monarchy here in the UK I've always been a bit iffy about it being the same monarchy that rules other places.

[Densaner]

Good. I hope Australia does become a republic some day. Australia having our head of state seems anachronistic. Britain should also dump the Monarchy as it is an outmoded and cynical system.