Forever in our hearts and soles will we be a part of the British Empire, and all that we have learnt and received will not be forgotten, but with a stable economy and government it is time that we move forth from our established mother and found ourselves as a republic. As I still am a youth of Australia and ineligible to vote all I can say is that soon there will be time for change and time for us to be recognised as our own country.

Rin,
I thought Australia was already recognised an an autonomous nation, with our own Constitution, Government, Laws and Justice system; we are not beholden to any other National power. Why are you so obsessed with republican indoctrination that the Queen of Australia is some motherhood dependency? The Queen represents and serves in the office of Crown [the people of Australia] to protect the Constitution on behalf of us the people of Australia. The Governor General holds that position here in Australia so - is he our Father? Do we need to remove him also as we breakaway from the Fatherhood traditions of Westminster? We already stand alone as an autonomous nation and Government. That the Queen of Australia is also Queen of several Sovereign Commonwealth nations does not make us immature; it rather makes us stronger as a community of Nations.

We as well as Canada voted recently to retain the Monarchy and thereby the Westminster System of Government. Australia is a stable society, only those that have been indoctrinated in Republicanism want to destabelise our Government and our institutions. My Scottish ancestors came here under Dunmore Lang a Scott an avowed Republican so the Republican movement is not a new phenomon it has been around since Australia was settled by the British. Yes probably we will become a Republic in the future - an Islamic Republic. So stay around to see Republicanism arise in Australia as our borders are removed into Indonesia.

Rin is obviously a person who is capable of thinking for him/herself, Philo, and doesn't need your patronising comments. Rin acknowledges Australia's history as part of the British Empire and has no criticism of that.

From your many posts, you appear to be a person who relies on dogma rather than on constructive thought. Well, how about accepting that we're not all like that.

Howard made sure that the republican referendum would go his way. Most Australians want a republic. It's just the details which haven't yet been settled, but that will come.

We know that you are obsessed with your brand of Christianity, but your comments about Australia becoming an Islamic republic are absolutely ridiculous. But maybe it would suit you if our govt was controlled by Christian extremists and then discrimination against those whose lifestyles you do not approve of could be enshrined in law.

Thanks Scout for bookmarking the website. Our group has also started a forum at http://www.7gs.com/copernican/ which discusses republican models having an Australian Head of State succeeding the Queen.

As the question whether Australia should be a Republic runs in our minds, can we actually come to a wider perspective by asking " is the constitution out of date?". Since the constitution outlines the structures,principles and procedures of the government, it should outline the type of government which Australia should have since Australia no longer has a Queen. Having a Head of State which is not neccessary for Austrlia who no longer is in control of the Queen simply basically creates the question "is the constitution out of date?".

jaadoo,
With comments like this" "Australia no longer has a Queen. Having a Head of State which is not neccessary for Austrlia who no longer is in control of the Queen simply basically creates the question "is the constitution out of date?".

It is obvious you do not understand our current constitution; as Queen Elizabeth is still Queen of Australia and the Commonwealth of which we are a member. The Governor General is our local peoples Representative. He stands there to approve laws to be applied upon the population by Governments, and dismiss governments that are not acting according to the constitution or the will or the best interest of the people. The people are sovereign and are represented by the Crown - Head of State.

Republicans wish to remove the Westminster form of distribution of powers, and make it more political with popular elected head of State. They then would hold a sectarian political interest and the State would become more volitile as powers are challenged by sectional interests. Those with sectional interests find this very appealing, because they get their opinions enforced upon populations if their representative is in power.