Australia as a republic

G'day Sam I am,

do you like green eggs and ham?
do you like them in a box?
would you eat them with a fox?

Would you? Could you?
In a car?
Eat them! Eat them!
Here they are.

Ok now that I have that sillyness out of my system.....

Many people would like to see australia become a republic. however there are so many divisions on what form this republic would take that it will never become a reality.

In 1999 Australians voted in a referendum to declare Australia a republic. there were only two option offered Vote yes for a republic or no to retain Australias consitutional monarchy.

The proped form that the republic would take is that the Australian people would elect a government who would then appoint a prime minister. The prime minister would then select and appoint a president.

Many Australians felt that the president in this form would be a puppet belonging to the Prime Minister. Essentially this would be no change from the system we currently had.

There were of course many many differing opinions.

My personal View is that a republic should have an independantly elected president. But I think with less powers to interfere with government than has the president of (for example) the U.S.

Hey dadpad ~ I'm interested in your response as a Canadian. So what's the status of the republican movement now in Australia?

I know that, from time to time, the monarchial debate rages here. The monarchists always win, simply because they're so passionate and most of the rest of us don't care. But we keep one eye on what the Australians are doing about removing themselves from the "empire". The Aussie referendum got lots of press coverage here.

The anti-monarchist movement here suffers from a general fatigue of things constitutional and the huge complication of Quebec. (There's irony in the fact that removing a British monarch from our constitutional heirarchy would give immense impetus to the quebecois separatists. Additional irony in that a republic system would probably suit Quebec better than the current constitutional monarchy, but their perennial separation issue blocks any progress on it.) And there's the basic Canadian frugality thing -- if it's more or less ticking along fine as it is and it's going to cost me anything to change it, I'm not interested.

Funny thing is -- I'm writing this on Victoria Day, a national holiday to celebrate a long-dead monarch. Of course, most Canadians (including most monarchists) think of it more as a day to celebrate gardening, or opening cottages, drinking lots of beer and letting off fireworks. Hmmm ... that's probably the biggest weapon in the monarchists' arsenal -- an end of monarchy means fewer long weekends.

australia as a republic
Hey dadpad. Thanks for your personal view man. But the view u gave is too deep bro. What i was expecting was more like general reasons why Australia should be a republic. Dont get me wrong , but u were good. A bit too good. Haha. So i hoped i am not asking too much but i will really appreciate it if u could give me the reasons for a republic and some elaborations on the points. Thanks a bunch. Hope to hear from u soon. Bye.




P.S. Anybody can give your views , so please do!!! TQ

Re: Australia as a republic


What the hell is a S.A.M. student?

Of course Australia should be a republic!

Get rid of at least one queen!

Australia as a republic
Hey there margo. S.A.M. means South Australia Matriculation. I am doing a research on this topic. Can u give more points and elaborate more for australia should be a republic. Thanks.

No!

I'm too old to be doing homework.

Marc, why dont you post what youve got. Just the dot points

We'll work with you not for you.

Australia as a republic
Hey everyone. I think everyone misunderstand me here. I noe it seems dat i juz 1 all of u to give me all the answers, but dat is not true. Now margo, i am not asking u to do any home work, juz tell me wat u think. It could be just ' I think australia should be a republic becoz it provides better separation of power. ' Dats all i need. Your personal views is all i need not after doing research or anything like dat. I am not expecting one long written essay. Juz a few lines will be sufficient. I hope u guys understand. Thx again.



P.S. Wat i am doing is somethin like an interview. If u guys think i am faking, then will it be allright if i ask questions and u guys answer? Pls reply.

Re: Australia as a republic


Any more of that Juz, dat, U noe shite and no-one will talk to you marc! and I am not your bro! The Adults on this forum want to be treated with respect as adults! (well most of the time anyway) Yeah. You were just trying to be friendly I know.

One of the responses you should already have down is an attitude of apathy. Constitutionally most Australians don't give a fat rat clacker.
Morally its a different story. A bit like a teenager demanding/needing independance from his/her parents. You just get to the point when you dont need your parnets telling you how to run your life or having the final say over your decisions.
In this debate the monarchy takes the parents position and The Australian people take the position of the teenager.

Ask your questions and I'll see if I can formulate a response.

Australia as a republic
Hey everyone. I am very sorry if i offended anyone. This is my first time in a forum. I dunno how people will react to my question. Very sorry. Anyway, dis is y i think australia should be a republic.

1. Australia should have its own head of state
2. There will be better separation of power
3. Australia will not lose its current identity but instead get a new 1

Give me your views on these. Thanks

1. Australia should have its own head of state
Why? of what benefit would having an indigenous head of state be?
Could a recent (1st generation) immigrant be our head of state?
could someone who claims to be a devout muslim (just an example) be our head of state?

Australia should have it own head of state because a monarchy does not reflect the values, goals and aspirations of Australias egalitarian society. Many Australians believe that hard work, effort and achievement should be the defining characteristics of leaders, not being born into a particular family. (This is commonly called the "Charles is a wanker" theory.)

Any political office which involves the representation of citizens
should be open to all those being represented. (Speech to the Victorian Conference of the Australian Republican Movement, Linsay Tanner 2002)

"All citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally eligible to
all dignities and to all public positions and occupations, according to
their abilities, and without distinction except that of their virtues and
talents". (Article 6, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen adopted by the National Assembly of France on August 26, 1789:).


2. There will be better separation of power
In respect of a republic this is only true (and then only sometimes) if head of state is directly elected. A model put forward during 1999 was for head of state to be appointed by either the prime minister (think political payback) or a bipartisan committee (a camel is a horse designed by a committee).

It seems to me that a complete separation of powers is only achievable by electing a head of state that appoints another separate layer of administration. Perhaps a directly elected head of state who has advisors appointed by each party represented in the legislature.

A common reason for the rejection of the '99 referendum ie appointed head of state, was insufficient political accountability.

3. Australia will not lose its current identity but instead get a new 1
If you don't lose your current identity how can you get a new one? dumb statement marc in my opinion but keep at it. Good to see you've at least got an opinion. Which is more than I can say for the rest of the Aussies here.

National identity as perceived by other nationalities would not change. I really don't believe my personal perception of Australia and orstryans would either.

Look, just read Tanners' Reviving the Republic (2002) it pretty much sums up my attitude. There really isn't anything new or better that I could add. This debate has been around since the 1891 convention.
http://vic.republic.org.au/index_files/speeches/Tanner.PDF

Heres a list of links that might be valuable
http://vic.republic.org.au/index_files/links.htm

I think to the attitude of Canadians would be interesting to have insight into. probabaly very similar attitudes.

As you would know Canadians are like Australian... just kept in the fridge for later on.

Australia as a republic
Hey dadpad. I dont think my point no.3 is a dumb statement. U see, based on my research, many Australians are afraid that they will have to change the flag, the national anthem etc if they were to adopt a republic system. But , actually they dont have to, coz the idea of a republic is to remove the queen as the head of state. Btw, izit true dat the queen has totally cut ties wit australia? Correct me if i am wrong. Thanks.

Re: Australia as a republic


Ok i can accept that you have researched that i dont. It just goes to prove my opinion that "folks are dumb where I come from." the older I get the dumber people seem to me. Maybe that makes me a cranky old man. Lol wadda ya rackon?



News to me. But then I don't know everything.

Do you always go on with this baby talk? I feel like I'm talking to a 4 year old. coochy coochy coo!

Australia as a republic
Lol. Dats cute. Dont forget, i am not the cranky old man here. Haha. Anyway thanks for the help so far. Will continue to do my research and ask more of ur opinions later. Thanks!

Yes - I must admit I'm totally put off by someone who professes to be Australian but does not appear to write in English.

Another grumpy old.....

Australia as a republic
Hey everybody. Did some research and manage to get these points. Give me ur views k. Thanks


1. The Governor-General is a waste of the people's money
2. The queen does not reflect the values of the people
3. The queen is not directly accountable to the people
4. Being a republic , there will be a perfection of democracy



Anybody may give their views. Thanks again.

Re: Australia as a republic



yes
yes
yes
what?