I'm not a royalist by sentiment but have no quibble with the current arrangement where a purely symbolic, but constitutionally required, function is performed by a hereditary monarch. What really concerns me is the prospect of a ‘head of state’ chosen via an as yet undefined process and possessing the one necessary qualification that attracts so many – being Australian. Someone might care to expound on the possible dangers posed by such a new system – I could suggest a couple (look at Turkey) but fear my imagination is too limited. Frankly this is a job that should be outsourced to an outfit we can rely on to appoint sane, civilized, well-behaved individuals who have no real stake in Australia’s future, live far away and can be trusted not to interfere. Now let me think …..

If attending an event or giving an award is important enough the prime minister can do it. If it is not that important the prime minister can designate someone else to do it. We can do without a head of state. It is just another mouth feeding at the public trough.

Australia has a constitutional monarchy, preserved in its original form, and serving its purpose flawlessly.
David’s lack of education is demonstrated by his article.
Our head of state is appropriate to the authentic political structure we are so fortunate to have. There is plenty of scope for the aspirations of young Australians. We do not need destructive lefty nonsense, thanks, David

@Tombee, Wednesday, 3 May 2017 3:17:06 PM

"Frankly this is a job that should be outsourced to an outfit we can rely on to appoint sane, civilized, well-behaved individuals who have no real stake in Australia’s future, live far away and can be trusted not to interfere. Now let me think ….."

Splendid observation Tombee - well done !

Australians have already made a judgement on this rubbish. No republic was the answer. Get on with the really important things that need fixing.

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Dear David,

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I get your point, David. It might be nice to have an Australian as our head of state. That would seem logic.

Mind you, now that we’ve had a foreigner as our head of state for so many years, it could be argued that we’ve set a precedent.

As a matter of fact, I understand that our prime minister recently declared that Australia is now one of the most multicultural countries in the world, if not the most multicultural in the world.

On the other hand, historically speaking, it might make sense for us to have an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person as our head of state. That would be more in line with our national identity as the first peoples in the Pacific.

Or why not an American ? We depend a lot on the US these days – much more than the UK, anyway. We’ve had the Queen for quite a while, now. Perhaps we could give Trump a go. He might do it.

Or how about Xi Jinping ? Trump said he was a nice man – and apparently very intelligent too. He seems to have the right credentials for the post. If he can do China, he can do Australia. That’d be no big deal for a man like him.

But now that I think of it, David, it might even be a good idea to do a duo with Trump and Xi together as co-heads of state. It could prove to be a wise risk management strategy for us to adopt in these troubled waters of the Pacific - as the tides, they are arising.

What do you think ?

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