We must be scraping the bottom of the Barrell if, "A major reason for an Australian republic is to aid the further development of a distinct and unique Australian identity", is being seriously advanced for becoming a Republic.

As we are not presently a Republic , does it then stand that we don't have a "distinct and unique Australian identity' ?

If we do have one then perchance we found it under a cabbage plant in the garden ?

Anyone who suggests we DON'T have a distinct and real national/cultural identity is probably not "Australian".

Why must there be another national identity? Historically, it seems to me the main expression of strong national identities has been the willingness to go and kill those who don't share that national identity. Creating a strong national identity preserves a bloody, brutal past. Instead of killing the enemies of the British Empire we can extend our bloodiness to kill all non-Australians.

Rather than creating a strong national identity I would explore what we have in common with other humans on this planet without considering what national boundaries surround them. Europe is creating a European community partially due to the recognition of the misery that strong national identities produced in the past. I think it much wiser that nations become merely convenient administrative units.

Australia’s national personality is barren of overtly romanticised and sentimentalised national fervour because the nation is relatively new, born in 1901 with the stroke of a pen, not the bloodied thrust of the sword. That disposition is just fine for the descendants of British settlers whom have been established here for at least 4 or 5 generations, which in present days I guesstimate to be at least 70 to 75% of the population. Eventually, in approximately 20 years with natural attrition and multiculturalism that Britishness will be diluted down to less than 50%. Is that good or bad, I dunno.

A characteristic of the British inheritance is a wariness of nationalistic displays which is the opposite of patriotism which is strong......but there remains a cringe factor when it comes to passionate displays of the flag such as flying the flag in your front yard, wearing it as a cape during xenophobic demonstrations or flying the flag from your car whilst driving around. That sort of nationalistic display is wholly assimilated from US movies and in the US is mainly exhibited by newly naturalised immigrants from mainland Europe. I suspect that is also the same here in Australia.

Encouraging patriotism and downplaying nationalism are policies that I would support, so what is patriotism and nationalism? That’s a hard one to define; the simplest way for me to explain would be to impose the qualities of each onto a human personality. A nationalist would be someone like Adolf Hitler loyal to the nation but with all the symbolism of offensive actions, violence, war and xenophobia’s, whereas a patriot would be someone like Mahatma Gandhi still loyal to the nation but with the symbolism of defensive actions, non-violence, peace and tolerance.

Ethnicity is a huge factor and takes many centuries for states to develop separate ethnicities. In the past different ethnicities developed between communities because of distance/isolation and the lack of daily communication. These are no longer factors in 21st century Australia with either US or UK culture impacting just about everything 24/7. Australian ethnicity can presently only apply to native indigenes.

Establishing an Australian identity is not one of the major reasons why this country should become a republic. We already have an identity, like it or hate it, and it changes over time, influenced dramatically by the results of the immigration programs.

Becoming a republic had more to do with political independence and taking the necessary steps to maturity as a nation. Cutting the apron strings with Mother England should happen and must happen before that can occur.

And Leigh.......having a GG costs this country a significant amount. For example,

TAXPAYERS have been left with a $700,000 bill from Governor-General Quentin Bryce's controversial 18-day trek to 10 African countries earlier this year.

Even if she doesn't go on an overseas jaunt, she costs us

Ah, Reductio Ad Hitlerum, commonly known as Godwin's law, ie Nationalism is bad because Hitler used it as one of his motifs, just as he used Socialism.
Following that logic Dogs and children are bad because Hitler was fond of them, vegetarianism and opera too since he was interested in both subjects.
Every country has Nationalist and National Socialist styled movements, so should we, don't like it don't vote for it.
Tell the Arabic Baathists, the BJP, the Mongolians,Dagestanis, Russians, Hungarians and Venezuelans (to name a few) to give up their Nationalists/National Socialist styled groups.
That's the irony, so called White Nationalists have millions if not Billions of potential allies and sympathisers among the other Races, where Leftists do not.
We have Arabic youth in Belgium giving roman salutes to media cameras and kids in Ulan Bator spraying Swastikas on walls while "Skinheads" in China decorate their flats with Third Reich propaganda
Ha Ha.