I was not going to bother to post on this issue until I found that John Warhurst is chairman of the Australian Republican Movement and he is obviously not playing the devils advocate. It would have been far better if he had disclosed his real position instead of coming across as an academic putting forward a discussion paper.

For thoses pro-repiblicans that want to blame John Howard for the loss at the referendum, I recall that JH made his views clear at the beginning and took no further part in the debate. He gave us a referendum on the preferred model by the pro-republican movement.

The costs involved in becoming a republic are substantial. A referendum would cost about $100 million. A second referendum about another $100 million. Then there is the costs of changing. This could well run into billions. Added to this is an extra election each 3-4 years to elect a President on top of the elections we now have. That position seems to be the preserve of the rich. All to what end?

Becoming a republic would not be of benefit, except to provide a short lived warm and fuzzy feeling for some. Our hospitals would still be the same, kids would still be abused, still transport problems, DOCS the same. Not one real and practical benefit would flow from becoming a republic.

The pro-republicans need to put forward a model that gives us advantages, which they have not been able to do.

What about a model that gives greater electoral democracy by doing away with compulsary preferential voting or gives proportional representation in parliament. Or protects our interests by the introduction of Citizen Initiated Refenda. If we are to go to the trouble of changing we have to have some real benefits.

aussie_eagle2512 how can you respect the country of birth if you ignore its laws? To me you sound more like a terrorist who desire his/her own thing regardless what is lawfully permissible and those who do not agree you attack.
You were born under British rule and you may not like it but then there are ways to address these issues. Taking on that people simply have to accept your line of taking the law into your own hands isn’t going to work. Neither of unconstitutionally seeking to tamper with the Constitution.
As in any society there are people against certain things while others are in favour. You do not go about trying to dictate people that you are either with us or against us rather that you seek to get some consensus as to what might be the appropriate legal way to achieve what all may desire.
Personally I have little to no respect for the British royal family, but still constitutionally they are our monarchy. We were federated under the British Crown. Those who do not like this simply have to then pursue ways to try to bring about a change that is lawfully permissible.
However, before seeking to bring about a change do first consider all possible consequences that may eventuate with a change.
Most people complain about things they do not like and want to have a republic, not realising that the issues they complain about has nothing to do with a republican issue but relates to abuse and misuse, etc, by parliamentarians and if there was a change to a republic then no longer can you fall back on the constitution that it is not permissible because it will be taken that when becoming a republic all “conventions” were therefore part of becoming a republic. Hence, be warned about doing it on ill conceived reasons.
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Banjo; On 19-7-2006 the Court upheld my right to refuse to vote, see my blog at http://au.360.yahoo.com/profile-ijpxwMQ4dbXm0BMADq1lv8AYHknTV_QH

I've written this in another post earlier - but I think it might be
useful here as well:
"Australians all, let us rejoice,
We've got a British Queen.
The laws that govern our brown land,
By Her are overseen.

'The day has come,' some people said,
For us to be True Blue.
It's time the old girl packed it in,
It's making us askew.

'Get rid of her?' few cried agast,
'Whatever will we do?'
'Don't worry mate, we'll be just fine.'
'The Yanks are coming through!"

Great post, Banjo

A royal family can have considerable moral authority and doesn't owe its position to the politicians or the corporate elite. Thanks to chance and the hereditary principle, decent human beings are occasionally thrown up. This has great potential to embarrass the politicians. I suspect that some of our politicians who call themselves monarchists might have different views, if at Federation we had done like Norway and started our own royal family, perhaps based on a younger branch of the British royal family.

Royalty - is to Britain, what Disneyland is to the USA. A great
tourist attraction! When the British people were asked recently whether they wanted to keep the monarchy, whether it was relevant to
Brtain - the majority replied - "Yes, it brings in the tourists."

As for us - in Australia? What would the advantages be of a Republic?
Hmmm, let's see. To be totally independent of Britain might mean that
our own Head of State will sign our own laws passed by Parliament.
That our own Head of State will approve the appointment of ministers, senior judges and other officials. That our own Head of State will sign delegated legislation (regulations) and perform ceremonial duties.

A start has already been made by introducing an Australian "Honours"
list instead of maintaining the previous British one.

Our currency is in dollars instead of pounds. We've got our own National Anthem - why not our own complete identity? Get rid of the
Queen's portrait on our currency. Teach the real history of this country - not the British version. Remove the Union Jack from our flag - showing our subserviance to Britain. It's time we came into our own - we no longer accept British conficts. We're gradually making a break from Britain - why not do it totally by becominga Republic?

If we break with the symbolism of catering to the monarchy - it will be a great financial saving as well. Why do we need a Governor General? (who officially can depose our freely elected Prime Minister). And, perhaps in the future our Prime Minsters will be able to enter Buckingham Palace through the front door - and not the Tradesmen's entrance. And Royal visits - won't be paid for by our tax payers

Unfortunately Foxy a lot of what you say people find irrelevant, people dont care about Australia, they care about what Australia does for them. But if anyone insults British heritage then suddenly they become defensive, the integrity of being British is more important than the integrity of being Australian thats what it comes down to. They believe Australia is and should remain inferior and Australia self-respect is not worth paying for. This is spitting on the worn boots of our nation, and I will never stand for it so long as I live. I and probably many other people out there are as proud of Australia and its achievements as any of the most patriotic people of the nations. Just as it looks like we may be turning into a nation, they internationalise us.