If it ain't broke don't fix it.What benefit do we get from becoming a republic?It would cost billions of dollars and how would it better our lives.Would it improve the hospital system or put more money in our pockets?Would it get the homeless off the streets or help our crime statistics?Why should we become a republic?Give me one good reason.

Because we are a grown up nation, and its time the umbibicle cord was cut!

Kipp might care to know that the umbilical cord was well and truly cut more than eighty years ago, according to the Hawke Government's Constitutional Commission, which included Gough Whitlam as one of its members and Sir Zelman Cowen as one of its advisers.

As for John Warhurst's accusation that monarchists are running away from the big issue, that's a bit rich coming from the former head of ARM, which once had six republican models on its plate and dumped them all because deciding which one to choose became too hard. John knows full well that there is no such thing as a republic – there are some 150 of them around the world and all are different. Mary Robinson and Saddam Hussein were both republican presidents. After 17 years of pushing and straining, the republicans still don't have a single model to put to the people. When they finally decide on THE republic there will be an issue for the rest of us to contemplate – until then, all republican posturing is simply empty rhetoric.

The Jews stumble b4 the power of the Poland *Pa Wraith*

&

Muttley throws a bucket of blood on *His PopIness*
(whilst in his best Dorothy shoes too I might add ;-) )

..

I go to bed & promptly roll over
&
b sick in a bucket with *Reagan*

..

but too wake this morning to such a
*TreaSurePleaSure*

..

**cOUNt pUTIn* & *Madame Alina**
Lord & Lady Alina
Lady & Lord Putin

(!YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!)
as they melt into the Blessing of the Collective
(!YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!)

..

I say, what show, ... a Mask Faces party

!AND!

a *TriPoppetsWockeTKompetition* in the desert
4 ALL the WarPoppets

!AND!

the prize, NOT the !BONGofFIRE!, NOT the !LINEofDEATH!

!BUT! Ozzie *RapidResponseStealthTek*
!AND! Ozzie *ScramJetII*
!AND! Ozzie AI Accessories

the winner,
the Poppets with the best AntiStwayWocketSolution,
all factors considered,
prize to b determined by OnLine Poppet Poll.

...Adam...

P.S.

Think someone better check the measurement of
Muttley's *HolyCity* stick.

P.P.S.

Let the Ambassador to *Satan*
be summoned, !BOW!YR!__CKING!HEADS!
for interogasi regarding the Ferrengi Alliance.
HaHaHa

.. to be continued ..

AJ LEBreton,what was all that rubbish about.

We are already a republic - a crowned republic (yes there are such things) - the question for republicans is 'do you want Australia to leave the Commonwealth'. If the answer is yes, then say so.
In the meantime the estimated cost of becoming a republic (and then the ongoing costs of remaining one) would be far higher than republicans care to admit. Can we justify spending that money just to satisfy those who are unable to acknowledge reality?
Given the choice would you spend money on becoming a republic outside the Commonwealth or remaining a republic inside the Commonwealth and using the money saved to further develop trading ties with a group of nations - to the advantage of both sides?
Republicans really need to stop suggesting that we are anything but independent - we can do anything we want to do. We are seen as a very stable country - something that would immediately change for the worse if we became a republic....and yes, it would cost billions in lost confidence if nothing else.