The Republic of Australia

First of all, I'd like to apologize if I placed this thread in the wrong section.

Someone in another thread regarding the Queens retirement suggested that I started a thread about the possible Australian republic in the not so distant future. So here I am.

I would like anyone who has a opinion to post, from anywhere in the world.

I would like to discuss the Pro's and Con's of a Australian republic.

1. Do YOU want a Australian republic?
2. Would you be happy to change the flag?
3. Would you like a president?
4. What other changes do you think there would be?
5. Would the world's opinion of Australia change, if so would it be positive?

I'm sure there's quite a lot of things involved with such a change.

Feel free to answer the questions, add as much as you like.

[edit on 10/22/2008 by WishForWings]

The first thing that came to mind was not being able to dominate the commonwealth games anymore.

Becoming a republic won't happen over night, I believe we will have a referendum once the queen steps down to gauge the public's reaction.

I don't seeing it happen before 2015 personally.

I voted YES to a referendum some years ago for Australia becoming a Republic.

1: Yes!
2: Yeah! If the flag would get change to a Ac/Dc Flag...
3: Yes! Pauline Hanson as President of Australia, not Kevin07 our PrimeTourist.
4: Changes? It would be a CHANGE of better if Australia would be a Republic.
5: I hope so.

Originally posted by WishForWings
First of all, I'd like to apologize if I placed this thread in the wrong section.

Someone in another thread regarding the Queens retirement suggested that I started a thread about the possible Australian republic in the not so distant future. So here I am.

I would like anyone who has a opinion to post, from anywhere in the world.

I would like to discuss the Pro's and Con's of a Australian republic.

1. Do YOU want a Australian republic?
2. Would you be happy to change the flag?
3. Would you like a president?
4. What other changes do you think there would be?
5. Would the world's opinion of Australia change, if so would it be positive?

I'm sure there's quite a lot of things involved with such a change.

Well, I would say we'd do better in other sports, but as of late I don't think so anymore.

Rugby = Bad.
Cricket = Terrible.
Rugby league = Winning, but not by enough

I think as more younger voters keep coming through the referendum would swing to the republic side.

But I'm unsure what my vote would be, I'm hoping this thread will give me a little more insight, if anyone else posts.

1. No
2. No
3. No
4. A republic means more power and prestige to self aggrandizing hack politicians!
5. Who cares?

1. No. Because we then have to change the flag and get a prez. The royals don't cost us much.
2. No. Cause Aussies have fought and died under the Aussie flag.
3. No. Waste of money. Who elects the prez, we or parliament? If an idiot gets in that will make us look bad, where as if the royals stuff up the Brits will wear the brunt of it.
4. None.
5. Dunno. I doubt it will make any difference.

1. Do YOU want a Australian republic?

Yes

2. Would you be happy to change the flag?

Yes, will need to if we become a republic

3. Would you like a president?

I guess so, if thats what we would call the leader of the country

4. What other changes do you think there would be?

Who cares, we no longer belong to the Poms

5. Would the world's opinion of Australia change, if so would it be positive?

I doubt there would be any difference. I couldnt see it being a negative issue anyway

I forgot to post my answers to the questions.

1. Do YOU want a Australian republic?

Yes and No.

2. Would you be happy to change the flag?

No, it means a lot to me.. and to a lot of Australians.

3. Would you like a president?

It depends, as long as it's not Kevin Rudd or someone like George Bush who will make us hated.

4. What other changes do you think there would be?

Not quite sure, except the Queens ugly head wouldn't be on coins any more.
I hope there isn't too Aboriginal influence in most thing's, even though they are the original inhabitants of the land I don't want Australia to be viewed as a country that hunts it's food.

5. Would the world's opinion of Australia change, if so would it be positive?

I think Australia would be looked at as more of a power, and not one of England's babies.

I think we have matured enough to step out on our own.

I would like to see the flag changed to reflect our history and future.

I dont think it would have a large impact on our lives.

I would like to see Australian's create there own legitimate constitution as the freedoms we think we have are actually false.

Because from what i understand our Legal and Tax system are illegitimate under British law..?.im not %100 sure on that one though.

Originally posted by SvenTheBerserK
I would like to see Australian's create there own legitimate constitution as the freedoms we think we have are actually false.

Yes I agree. We don't have our freedoms enshrined in a constitution.
We should do this but I see no reason why we should leave the commonwealth. Besides when the one world government takes over none of this will matter.

I don't think leaving the commonwealth will really make a difference with much things.

But then again, I don't see why we need them either.. Do they do anything for us?

Regardless, they'd still be our ally.

You can move out of your parents house, but they are still your parents.

I am sure, I could be wrong about this. Didn't the brittish goverment added the "commonwealth" to the commonwealth countries? And isn't the Queen is just there to pull on the commonwealth strings, but the brittish goverment is the one who is in controll? I could be wrong about all this.

The Commonwealth of Nations.

No single government in the Commonwealth, British or otherwise, exercises power over the others, as in a political union. Rather, the relationship is one of an international organisation through which countries with diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status, and co-operate within a framework of common values and goals, as outlined in the Singapore Declaration.
Wiki

Also, it seems we can become a republic and still be in the Commonwealth.

Regardless I still prefer a monarchy...

I don't want australia to change
In my eyes, it is the last bastion of truly living. You guys have not taken any smeg from anyone. You don't obsess about the entire world. Just you and your own. With a pres I believe you'll be falling into a hole you don't want to go down under. (You see what I did there?)

Does the flag HAVE to change if we became a republic?

I typed "Australian republic flag" into Google and I wasn't impressed.

Also, if we did become a independence and not in the commonwealth.. we'd have to change the second verse of our national anthem.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.

National Anthem


Edit: In relation to the flag changing I found this, which settles some nerves.

In contrast, the Australian flag is governed by an Act of Parliament, the Flags Act 1953. This Act requires that a national vote or plebiscite be held before the Government could change the flag. This Act also requires that the current Australian flag must be one of the options at the plebiscite should such a vote ever be held.

Hence to change the flag, the Australian people would have to vote explicity for a new design in preference to the current flag.

World experience proves that a change to a republic does not mean a new flag is inevitable, or vice versa. Canada changed its flag from a British red ensign to the red maple leaf design in 1965, but remains a monarchy with the British Queen as Head of State. Fiji became a republic in 1987, but chose to keep its light blue British ensign flag.

Australian Republic Movement

[edit on 10/22/2008 by WishForWings]



[edit on 10/22/2008 by WishForWings]