Yes, without a monarch, and a Governor-General, we won't have elected governments sacked on the whim of the Governor-General. If we have a popularly elected President, at least we get to have a say about who is the head of State.

After 200 years other Commonwealth nations for example Canada, have grown up, and cut the apron strings from Mummy England, and matured to be a self governing nation, it seems Australia, wants to remain childlike forever, and never grow up and take responsibility for herself.

Perhaps this is why we continue to be told what we should do, and when we should do it, take our new role in the Iran War for example that the Yank Secretary of State, is telling Johhny Bonsai right now, what we will and won't do.....

SHONGA, what galaxy do you live in? According to the very latest information I have at hand, Canada remains a constitutional monarchy, with the Queen as head of state.

Just a few months back, the British Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor, one Lord Falconer of Thoroton, came out by himself and dismissed suggestions that the British Government abolish primogeniture in succession to the throne. .... i.e. the underlying principle of succession in Britain where male heirs will always take precedence over female heirs.

This decision has an impact on the rules determining Australia's head of state and was made in Britain by a British politician. Was there any consultation with Australia? Of course not.

This decision underscores the absurdity of Australia's continuing links to the British monarchy. Absurd in that we have no say and absurd when you consider our Sex Discrimination Act has for the past twenty years outlawed such blatant gender discrimination.

The answer, Keiran, if the line of succession bothers you, is to encourage our Prime Minister to talk to the other PMs - rather than throw the baby out with the bathwater...

Nick, I fully agree. Well said.

“The argument fails because it cannot be crystallised into a better system of government than we have now. By that, I mean that the republican movement cannot articulate how any of us will be freer, wealthier, more committed to each other, more patriotic.”

Absolutely.

“I am absolutely convinced that the single most important ingredient in a system of laws and government is culture. Written rules are almost meaningless without a culture dedicated to their observance and compliance with them.”

Yes. Leigh makes some pertinent points. How would a republic improve the less culturally defined and less law-abiding path that we are heading down?

We urgently need major reforms in our governmental system. If the democrats (or anyone) really wanted to keep the bastards honest and call for real democracy and meaningful reforms, they would very loudly be lobbying against things like compulsory preferential voting, the intimate link between government and big business at all levels, the short-term nature of political decision-making, the worship of continuous economic growth …and for things such as sustainability being treated with the highest priority, true representation of the people, via referenda on just about anything of significance for example, etc, etc

This hoo haa about a monarchical head of state vs a republic was and still is a total distraction to what really matters.

I keep hearing about the strength of our Democracy... It is being eroded on a daily basis by our politicians and it has been for years. They keep telling everyone we have a strong democracy and people swallow it hook line and sinker.

The way this Govt is operating things you'd better watch him as the biggest threat to democracy. If Govts are continually allowed to stack committees and boards with their people then our democracy is in a dangerous place. Has a Govt got the ability to put it's people on the benches of the high court, other courts, Royal Commissions and Enquiries?

Of course Labor are no better and that is why we really do need a far stronger third party option than we have now. The inmates have taken over the assylum! We need to strengthen our laws to protect us from the pollies or at least enforce a few.

Read what was said at the Cole commission today .... Read the accusations by the QC's. Can we trust anything anymore?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1594202.htm

If witnesses are being instructed not to give full and honest answers at an enquiry like the Cole commission by their employers or anyone else then isn't that illegal under Australian Law? Doesn't perjury exist as a crime any more? Doesn't interfering with a witness or attempting to pervert the cause of justice exist any more? Isn't withholding evidence still a charge?

I don't care whether a person is Liberal, Labor or Kallathumpian noone should have the right to order a person on what evidence they should provide. If what is alleged in this article is truly happening then our entire system is on the brink.. Yep even our wonderful Monarchical system that many crow about!