Deliberative democracy takes power away from political machines, whose accountability to the electorate is tenuous, and gives it to interest groups, whose accountability is zero. Once again Greg Barns takes a tinkerer's approach to government ("what does THIS button do?") and doesn't give a damn about policy outcomes or the effects on actual people, just "communities" who can be defined in any way that pleases any given interest group.

Australia doesn't need a head of state: http://andrewelder.blogspot.com/2006/06/headless-state-australia-does-not-need.html .

Reference to the Queen of Australia does not exclusively mean Elizabeth II though she occupies the office. Her office represents a view of representative power vested in the office by the people supporting the Westminster system of Government. Until a better system of powers governing people can be presented, until then we salute the system of Government and the Crown.

"80 per cent of Australians have no idea of the name of their Governor-General". Big deal. What proportion of Catholics could tell you the name of their Pope? And exactly what difference would it make if they could?

If for Queen and Country - go to www.spectre.net.au and read this.