The Republic of Australia?

[Jamjai]

good for Australia for wanting to become a republic and become an international affairs in Asia

[Cetacea]

A woman called Quentin wants an irrelevant nation to change its government system slightly.

Why should I care?

Australia is an irrelevant nation? Do you even geopolitics?

And changing the country's form of government from a monarchy to a republic is a slight change? In practice, yes. Assuming they keep the parliamentary system. On the rest? No.

Australias relevance is a weakness and maybe why it should stay with the Queen.

It is a huge defensive bulwark strategically located at the centre of the tradelanes between the Pacific-Indian oceans and right on the base of Asia. But that makes it an important pawn for US military projection into Asia, India and the Arabian sea.

Rightly or wrongly people maintain respect for the British Royalty and that coverage acts as a slight protection to its commonwealth. If Oz breaks that tie, becoming a republic, then it may be percieved as nothing more than a US pawn and thus fairgame for the 'enemies of the west'.

Australia may be impossible to invade but terrorism doesnt require invasion, especially with Indonesia getting worked up atm, giving its terrorist even more incentive...

[Estado Paulista]

Rightly or wrongly people maintain respect for the British Royalty and that coverage acts as a slight protection to its commonwealth. If Oz breaks that tie, becoming a republic, then it may be percieved as nothing more than a US pawn and thus fairgame for the 'enemies of the west'.

They're probably already perceived as that. And if they're is not, having the Queen as the head of state won't make them not be perceived as that.

Australia may be impossible to invade but terrorism doesnt require invasion, especially with Indonesia getting worked up atm, giving its terrorist even more incentive...

So, Australia shouldn't become a republic because terrorism?

[Dazchan]

I support Australia becoming a republic.

Please explain why it makes even an iota of difference in today's world. I wasn't aware that the Queen or her representatives actively interfered in any of Australia's foreign or domestic policies.

Well... she did sack a Prime Minister once

I support Australia becoming a republic on purely ideological grounds. I support the idea of a directly-elected Head of State, with the same powers and limits as the current Queen/Governor-General. I don't believe anyone should be simply born into the position, or have it handed to them in a "jobs for the boys" situation.

[The Picti]

Rightly or wrongly people maintain respect for the British Royalty and that coverage acts as a slight protection to its commonwealth. If Oz breaks that tie, becoming a republic, then it may be percieved as nothing more than a US pawn and thus fairgame for the 'enemies of the west'.

They're probably already perceived as that. And if they're is not, having the Queen as the head of state won't make them not be perceived as that.

Australia may be impossible to invade but terrorism doesnt require invasion, especially with Indonesia getting worked up atm, giving its terrorist even more incentive...

So, Australia shouldn't become a republic because terrorism?

Sounds like Aussie royalists are taking tips from better together ( project fear)

Australia better to be a citizen than a subject. https://www.facebook.com/AusRepublic

You cannae let the Kiwi's beat you too it!!

http://www.independentaustralia.net/australia/australia-display/dont-let-the-kiwis-beat-us-to-an-australian-republic,5871

[Estado Paulista]

They're probably already perceived as that. And if they're is not, having the Queen as the head of state won't make them not be perceived as that.



So, Australia shouldn't become a republic because terrorism?

Sounds like Aussie royalists are taking tips from better together ( project fear)

Australia better to be a citizen than a subject. https://www.facebook.com/AusRepublic

You cannae let the Kiwi's beat you too it!!

http://www.independentaustralia.net/australia/australia-display/dont-let-the-kiwis-beat-us-to-an-australian-republic,5871

The Kiwis and the Australians are the most advanced countries among the Commonwealth Realms on the Republican debate.

I really hope their citizens realize that the monarchy isn't the main cause of their success.

[Risottia]

Tea, crumpets, cucumber sandwiches and Doctor Who.

the USA gets all of that PLUS we don't have to bother with cricket!

Try getting a decent cup or a cucumber sandwich without ketchup or sour cream in the colonies.
And substituting cricket with baseball, ew.

[Dunstan]

Can't see it happen for another generation. Labor seem far too weak at the moment, is there even a Republican majority amongst their leadership? Can't see the Coalition supporting another referendum whilst they are in government. How big an issue is it amongst Australians? Constitutional reform in the UK isn't really a big issue (well the Independence referendum in Scotland, but it is not as exciting as Scots Nats politicians like to think).

I am very pro the Anglosphere and would like us all to retain as close cultural ties as possible.

It was a hot topic a decade ago, and has since died off. But the GG saying this will probably spark debate over the matter once again.

[Dunstan]

A woman called Quentin wants an irrelevant nation to change its government system slightly.

Why should I care?

You don't have to care. Kind of irrelevant for you to waste time and space here then, isn't it?

[Geilinor]

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.

I agree with this principle. Maybe not right now, but a republic is certainly a worthy end goal.

[Geilinor]

Rightly or wrongly people maintain respect for the British Royalty and that coverage acts as a slight protection to its commonwealth. If Oz breaks that tie, becoming a republic, then it may be percieved as nothing more than a US pawn and thus fairgame for the 'enemies of the west'.

They're probably already perceived as that. And if they're is not, having the Queen as the head of state won't make them not be perceived as that.

Australia may be impossible to invade but terrorism doesnt require invasion, especially with Indonesia getting worked up atm, giving its terrorist even more incentive...

So, Australia shouldn't become a republic because terrorism?

I'd expect the ultra-monarchists to come up with strange reasons like, "terrorists" or "you hate Australia's heritage".

[Dunstan]

This does actually raise an interesting question. Do you think a change to a Republic would cause a changing of Australia's flag? And for the Aussies out there, what do you think it would be changed to?

And please, please, please don't say the Eureka flag or the Indigenous flag.

[Geilinor]

This does actually raise an interesting question. Do you think a change to a Republic would cause a changing of Australia's flag? And for the Aussies out there, what do you think it would be changed to?

And please, please, please don't say the Eureka flag or the Indigenous flag.

The flag wouldn't need to be changed. Hawaii uses the Union Jack on its flag.

[Estado Paulista]

I'd expect the ultra-monarchists to come up with strange reasons like, "terrorists" or "you hate Australia's heritage".

It's rather sad to see that Australia's heritage is a foreign woman that lives in the other half of the world.

[Estado Paulista]

This does actually raise an interesting question. Do you think a change to a Republic would cause a changing of Australia's flag? And for the Aussies out there, what do you think it would be changed to?

And please, please, please don't say the Eureka flag or the Indigenous flag.

If that happened it would probably be something like this:

But I like this one

[Dunstan]

This does actually raise an interesting question. Do you think a change to a Republic would cause a changing of Australia's flag? And for the Aussies out there, what do you think it would be changed to?

And please, please, please don't say the Eureka flag or the Indigenous flag.

The flag wouldn't need to be changed. Hawaii uses the Union Jack on its flag.

True, although getting a new flag would be a part of creating a new national identity.

[Dunstan]

This does actually raise an interesting question. Do you think a change to a Republic would cause a changing of Australia's flag? And for the Aussies out there, what do you think it would be changed to?

And please, please, please don't say the Eureka flag or the Indigenous flag.

If that happened it would probably be something like this:

But I like this one

Second one is cool, although I'd prefer to see it in green and gold.

[Narbaesia]

A bad idea. A figurehead Head of State with a degree of respectability such as a nominal monarch has is only a good thing. I would advise the Australians to avoid ending up like the US, where personification of the government's ultimate authority is forced to participate in politics, and thus despised by half the population. It is thoroughly unhealthy.

[Costa Alegria]

Assuming they keep the parliamentary system.

Right. Because a country that has had more or less the same government type for over a century is going to change everything overnight.

Here's how the current system works for people who are "unfamiliar" with how Commonwealth realms work: The Queen is Head of State. Her powers are vested in her representative in Australia, this being the Governor General, in the Queen's absence. The GG at this point is de facto Head of State, and is entirely a ceremonial position bar the one instance in Australia where the powers given to the GG had to be used. The Prime Minister is pretty much the Head of Government and represents Australia on an international stage and also sets government policy and controls forces such as the military.

Here's how an Australian republic would work: rename the Governor General as President. There's no need for a massive restructuring of the government system simply because a position of de facto HoS already exists.

[Costa Alegria]

I really hope their citizens realize that the monarchy isn't the main cause of their success.

Pretty sure there was an article which said that the Labour Party said it would hold a referendum on becoming a republic in the event of the Queen's not-too-far-from-now death.

[Estado Paulista]

I really hope their citizens realize that the monarchy isn't the main cause of their success.

Pretty sure there was an article which said that the Labour Party said it would hold a referendum on becoming a republic in the event of the Queen's not-too-far-from-now death.

Julia Gillard said that, I believe.

[Rio Cana]

Australia could invite one of the UK. royal Princes to become the King of Australia. Of course, this will lead to a break with the UK. royal house. The Australian King in time might even become heir to the UK. throne. Sort of what happened in Brazil in the early 19 century.

[Mostrov]

The day this happens I will emigrate.

Anyway, the Governer-General shouldn't be saying things such as this in the first place, as this completly violates the point of the office.

And its not as though either Julia Gillard or Tony Abott were actually born in Australia.

The fact that so many are wedded to the idea, as opposed to other systems where the head of state is equally ceremonial and unknown or subject to seething hate.

As for the idea of heriditary, that doesn't seem so abominable in comparison when you have political dynasties in the United States and a general political class springing up throughout the world. And people seem to be a little less opposed when its their own children who suffer as a result.
At least in countries with a monarchy the system is transparent.

[Costa Alegria]

Pretty sure there was an article which said that the Labour Party said it would hold a referendum on becoming a republic in the event of the Queen's not-too-far-from-now death.

Julia Gillard said that, I believe.

I was talking about NZ at this stage. Pretty much everyone here knows it will happen. It's just a matter of time.

[Geilinor]

The day this happens I will emigrate.

Anyway, the Governer-General shouldn't be saying things such as this in the first place, as this completly violates the point of the office.

And its not as though either Julia Gillard or Tony Abott were actually born in Australia.

The fact that so many are wedded to the idea, as opposed to other systems where the head of state is equally ceremonial and unknown or subject to seething hate.

As for the idea of heriditary, that doesn't seem so abominable in comparison when you have political dynasties in the United States and a general political class springing up throughout the world. And people seem to be a little less opposed when its their own children who suffer as a result.
At least in countries with a monarchy the system is transparent.

Being a republic doesn't make you corrupt and every country has groups of people who end up dominating the government.