Should we become a republic?

[INSINR8R]

Speculation from the PM stating that Australia becoming a Republic hasn't been ruled out.

After watching the opening ceremony of the games, and yes, I was hella bored, I think its time we finally stood on both feet. The Queen doesn't give a rats arse about the rest of the Commonwealth, so do you think we should become a republic?

Keep in mind that the last time we had this vote, it swayed in favour of not becoming one.

[clixanup]

Of course we should. But the Freemasons in Government will run a campaign of complete misinformation like they did last time to scare the people into voting against it...

[vztrt]

I'm not going to vote as I don't really care if we do or we dont (mind you at a referendum I'd vote yes). Life in Australia won't be dramatically changed if we became a republic.

[vt1538]

If we become a republic will we be excluded from the commonwealth games? If the answer is yes Im all for it.

[minux]

Watching how the queen was last night(looked bored out of her brain) i dont see the point in staying a part of the commonwealth, that and ALOT of other reasons.

[clixanup]

If we become a republic will we be excluded from the commonwealth games?

Nope. Malta is one, and there are heaps of other republics attending this year's games.

[EvoVIIIJDM]

England has sweet fa to do with this country, the queen plays no role in our government or decisions. The resistance comes from the baby boomer gen and the older gen that fought for freedom under our current flag, and as a generally ageing population, change will be hard to encourage. Should Australia become a republic: Its long overdue.

[The1985divo]

they screw us neway dont they??? :P

[vztrt]

England has sweet fa to do with this country, the queen plays no role in our government or decisions. The resistance comes from the baby boomer gen and the older gen that fought for freedom under our current flag, and as a generally ageing population, change will be hard to encourage. Should Australia become a republic: Its long overdue.

For a law to pass in this country it still needs to be allowed by the queen.

[Misaprop]

whats the point? all it will lead to is a lot of our money going to the politicians and lawers changing the paperwork at the parliament house...

[Misaprop]

For a law to pass in this country it still needs to be allowed by the queen.

I am pretty sure the governor general just stamps the act with his signature as the Queen's representative

[Julie]

I think the reason why we are not a republic today is not because the majority of Australians don't want to be a republic but because they voted no at the referendum because of the new system that would be adopted. Under the proposal instead of the Queen (or her representative GG) having dictorial powers, powers would be given to a president, whom was to be chosen by the Prime Minister with approval from the Leader of the opposition and voted on by a bunch of other pollies.

I think it would have gone the other way if a system that let the public vote on who should be president was an option.

[darktele]

I think the reason why we are not a republic today is not because the majority of Australians don't want to be a republic but because they voted no at the referendum because of the new system that would be adopted. Under the proposal instead of the Queen (or her representative GG) having dictorial powers, powers would be given to a president, whom was to be chosen by the Prime Minister with approval from the Leader of the opposition and voted on by a bunch of other pollies.

I think it would have gone the other way if a system that let the public vote on who should be president was an option.

I think been a republic is in need.. but also i think would get more votes if the public had the choice on who would be president! not our usless pollies we have at the moment both sides labor and liberal at the moment :P

[vlv8vic]

i was under the impression we would never have a 'president' in sence of the term, just keep a pm as the head of the country.

[TheForgotten]

this actually came up on the radio today. dunno if you southerners get "the bench warmers" but they were talking about oz becoming a republic and how sum little guy was givin a speech at the opening ceremony ands the qween couldn't give a rats

[craigvk]

No way. Not that I like having a Queen as head for our country, I have conservative views. ie: Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
Once we close the chapter, all sorts of rubbish will come out. As a Christian, I have Christian views on abortion and many other issues. So I seek no change because as it is, we are still seen as a Christian nation. Being a republic will destroy that eventually.

[deathsminion]

Oh dear...

Times change, to stick to old ways is a mistake. It's also a mistake to allow our current politicians to have any more power than they already do. That being said, we're so close to a dictatorship now as it is, it's almost irrelevant.

[Power21]

I really don't care. There aren't any advantages to it, wow we are independant, we don't get special treatment from the rest of the world, all it will do is cause a massive split in the country when the vote is taken.

[Power21]

Oh dear...

Times change, to stick to old ways is a mistake. It's also a mistake to allow our current politicians to have any more power than they already do. That being said, we're so close to a dictatorship now as it is, it's almost irrelevant.

LOL, a dictatorship, you have no idea do you. Your probably someone who hates america just to go along with the crowd.

[Garth]

seriously, why change the way we are now?

dont know about you, i didnt serve this nation in the military for it to become a republic, i like the queen, i like the way things work now, there seriously is no need to change, the queen does nothing in the country, all she does is the head of state, in other words, she is the head, but has absoulutly no say in the way things are run.

so my opinion, no, no need to change something that works
as dad say's, if it aint broke, dont fix it. more important things need fixing, like the health system, things like that

cheers
garth

[craigvk]

Good on you Garth. The majority of posts seem to be coming from people who don't even know what it's all about.

"If it ain't broken, don't fix it..."

[maxy0987]

i agree with garth.

Plus the comm games give us a chance to own the rest of the world :P

[sircruisealotVS]

No way. Not that I like having a Queen as head for our country, I have conservative views. ie: Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
Once we close the chapter, all sorts of rubbish will come out. As a Christian, I have Christian views on abortion and many other issues. So I seek no change because as it is, we are still seen as a Christian nation. Being a republic will destroy that eventually.

by whom are we seen a christian nation??
there are so many religions and cultures in australia, that to say we are a christian nation is laughable.
mixing religion and politics is a recipe for disaster and the way the world is today is testament to that. you are a religious person..good....but the dogmatic regime of christianity should not govern the decisions and laws of this country.
democracy is supposed to be the free and equal right of every citizen to vote and participate in their countries government, not for a christian majority to structure the governing body around their views and beliefs drawn from their religion and expect the remaining percentage of citizens to ablige.
untill the strangle-hold of religion is disbanded from politics, the world will never see peace or muticultural harmony and it will take alot more than faith and prayer to save it.

[hotel_kilo]

Currently the Governor General - who is appointed by the PM- is the Monarch's representative & gives royal assent to all legislation. Theoretically the G-G has power of dissent (veto) also.

Until 'el presedente' is elected by the people in a separate ballot, has power of veto and ANY australian-born citizen of Australia can stand without party affiliation, any move toward a republic will just hand the country to the 'dictatorship du jour'. And even then you likely can't be sure!

You think things are bad now, did you read the less-publicised constitutional changes they were trying to backdoor last time along with the overall change? I didn't think so. Otherwise this thread wouldn't even have started.

Davo...

PS what is _really_ scary is that people are deciding whether we should become a republic or not based on how boring the Commy Games are...

[craigvk]

by whom are we seen a christian nation??
there are so many religions and cultures in australia, that to say we are a christian nation is laughable.
mixing religion and politics is a recipe for disaster and the way the world is today is testament to that. you are a religious person..good....but the dogmatic regime of christianity should not govern the decisions and laws of this country.
democracy is supposed to be the free and equal right of every citizen to vote and participate in their countries government, not for a christian majority to structure the governing body around their views and beliefs drawn from their religion and expect the remaining percentage of citizens to ablige.
untill the strangle-hold of religion is disbanded from politics, the world will never see peace or muticultural harmony and it will take alot more than faith and prayer to save it.

The Prime Minister said so too! No seriously, do your research on why the Prime Minister said that we were still regarded as a Christian nation.

I ain't going to get into this any further because I could debate it with people until the cows come home and all it would do is cause conflict. Plus I waste my breath with most people on Christian issues anyway, but I am there for it.