Again the republic red herring raises its head.
It does not matter at all what Australia calls itself at the end of the day because with Peak oil, global warming and over population, the end of the world as we would think indestructible is approaching.
Usually this pops up when the pollies want to take our attention off the really important matters that need fixing.
What is it this time, the hung government? Abbots total lack of ideas except to object to everything?
Time will tell and we will have been diverted once again.
The boat people issue is a good example. 2 to 3 thousand people arriving by boat, divides the whole nation. The fact that over 300,000 came in legally in 2009 does not matter when this one gets on the news.
Grow up and face the real issues.

The people of n. reland have a democtaic vote every 3-4 years. They always vote in a massive majority for parties who want to stay aligned to the UK (with a few pockets of republicanism).

Who will replace the Queen....a muslim or Kylie Minogue?

It aint broke, so stop bloody fiddling with it.

Northern Ireland, LOL! Well done Point Piper, you won the prize for coming up with the worst ever reason for supporting the monarchy.

Duh!

In a republic the Queen who is now the sovereign power in our australian constitutional monarchy will be replaced by The Australian People. They will appoint their representative as Head of State in a manner to be determined. (either by direct vote or by parliament) We the people will be the final source of all authority.That's the difference and that the real reason why we should be a republic. You may argue that we are already that, but we are not 'de jure'('in law')the final authority, we are only so 'in effect' and at her majesty's pleasure. We should all reflect upon the real meaning of an Australian Democratic Republic.It will be the making of our nation and we need you all to be engaged in it. Peter Evans

Saw the program on the Queen the other day and remarked to my wife that she seemed to be a dim and humourless old bat who after over fifty years in the job couldn't give a speech, or even a toast, without reading it word for word, though I grant her for having stability and regal manner down pat. Wife remarked that you should consider yourself lucky - if the republicans had their way the job would go to someone of the calibre of Mark Latham, Julia Gillard, or Tony Abbott.

Those who can look on all the issues facing us and decide that a republic is top of the list mystify me.

In practice of course the Queen does not have any input into the administration of government. The argument for a republic is as a matter of symbolism. But while ever the Constitution is contained within an ordinary statute of the British Parliament, all the amendments in the world won’t achieve the symbolic purpose, because the Constitution itself will continue to take its legal origin, and its moral authority, from the British legislature including the Crown.

This means that to achieve the symbolic purpose you would need to create a new Constitution for a new polity. So you’d need a Declaration of Independence, and a new Constitution.

Good luck with that, you’re gonna need it.

It would be more to the point to figure out how we can reduce the influence of politicians in our life, not increase it.

The Value of the Monarchy is that it withholds power. No one poly in Australia can claim ultimate power. The allegiance of the Army and Police is to a powerless entity. The result is no take-over by one person or group.
Imagine President Keating or President Howard without limit? We need a mythical power to withhold power from mere mortals.
We could inves ultimate mystical power in the Black Stump to replace the Queen, but we must have it in some form of withholding ultimate power from one individual. If we don't then there is a soft underbelly in our society open to abuse.