It's a non issue.
There are far more important things to do first.
Like finally reforming the tax act to restore true equity and fairness, as well as completely stop all avoidance!
Avoidance that simply places a heavier burden on those who have no means or mechanisms that allows them to also avoid.
Meaning, a greater and greater burden is falling on fewer and fewer shoulders!
And some govts or politicians have been patently complicit in this outcome, with legislation that transfers more and more of the burden on to the shoulders of those, who have the least.
Also, before we worry about a republic and who will wield the most power; the president or the PM, we need a bill of rights, to ensure those who wield the power, don't wield it with excess, as occurred in the case of Dr Haneef and or, dozens of other cases!
Power in the wrong hands, even in a democracy, can and has resulted in a police state, with the police becoming a compliant and or corrupt arm, of an over controlling govt?
If changing the head of state, changed anything else, it might even be an exercise actually worth considering.
Albeit, our current head of state, treats us as aliens, when we visit her country, and selectively disadvantageous us, in trade deals, where we and the so-called mother country compete!
Rhrosty.

At the risk of being repetitive, let me restate once again why we will never have a republic unless there is some unforseeable political eruption.

The fact is that the people recognise that their main enemy is the current political elite. The failure of the elite to recognise that their duty is to implement the wishes of the people continues to rankle. The elite need to take into account that wonderful day in 1975 when the Prime Minister was dismissed by Her Majesty's representative. One way this could be done would be to rename the office of Governor-General to "Prime Ministerial Pisser-Offer in Chief".

If people are serious about wanting a republic, they need to offer a quid pro quo. One idea would to be to implement citizen initiated referendum, along the lines operating in Switzerland, which would enable the people to enact legislation in the teeth of the opposition of the political, judicial and business elite. If this were done, the first could be on bring back hanging, and the second on setting all political salaries equal to the dole.

Because the elite find many objectionable provisions in our Constitution that they are unable to change, the Constitution is not taught and few understand it. This actually hinders change, as opponents can say: "If you don't understand it, play safe and vote NO. If you do understand it, you would know why you should vote NO."

Due to the inability to get the people to agree on constitutional change we have several ludicrous results, one of which is that our constitution is now in force on the ships of a foreign country. (How can the ships be foreign if the Constitution is in force there?).

Some people suggest that the easiest way to have an Australian Head of State is to make the Queen an Australian Citizen. They do not understand, as the Queen is not a citizen of anywhere, just the Queen. She does not even have a passport.

You don't own this country since the bankers with their corporate shills bought us out over the last 50 yrs.

Talk of a republic is utter nonsense unless we get back some sort of financial sovereignty.

Mayer Rothschild," Give me control of a nation's currency and I care not who makes the laws."

A few posters here are confusing a republic with a general reform of our political processes.

Except for the ceremonial head of state, Australia is a republic in every sense.

As for reform of the political processes, the system is far too entrenched to even hope to achieve fundamental change on any level. The ruling oligarchy (and I don't refer to the politicians du jour) has absolutely every aspect of our existence under their complete control - not a single worthwhile social or political reform can ever take place unless there is something in it for them.

When it's in their interests for Australia to become a republic, we'll get one. Not a moment before.

Timely article. If the ARM is resuming activity one would hope that they have moved away from the Minimalist approach that has characterised its position and that of the major parties as well. I have not neglected the Republic issue at all as can be judged from my website www.republicnow.org BUT the view expressed there is that a Republic has to be approached from a Maximalist perspective. There is much more to be addressed than the Head of State issue. In fact the "much more" is simply the essence of serious Republicanism and the ARM has shied away from this from the start. The first step surely would have to be to fix the electoral system. This is not only what has happened to the Senate, something that one could see coming since 1984, but the entire electoral system that so grossly advantages the major parties that electors, especially the young, have turned their back on it. If you are interested in the need for other major reforms, like the federal system and the constitution as a whole, please go to my new short eBook published by three publishers in the US via BookPod in Melbourne:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EUSGN3G
or
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/australia-reconstructed/book-NkET686PbE-srNYdNHfhow/page1.html
or
https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/isbn9780987570192