An Australian Head of State! So many words have been written.

Following are some of my thoughts on a method of electing a head of state.

“The people should vote in a single national electorate, by an optional preferential ballot voting, from five nominees, creating the ‘Peoples’ Choice’ of the Head of State”.

The nation should remain known as ‘The Commonwealth of Australia’ (and not ‘The Republic’). This will ease any thought in the public’s mind of a major change and limit the cost of change within the public service; it also ensures that our Head of State is effectually disengaged from the ‘The Crown of the United Kingdom’ whilst maintaining our unique form of Westminster Government.

My reading of the Australian public is they would applaud an Australian Head of State but would not countenance any monumental change in our fundamental and proven form of government.

Due to emigration, the last 70 years has seen a great proportion of our current population having no historic links with Great Britain.

This will require a number of years as it must be in accord with the normal electoral cycle to offset excessive cost, the point of cost will be elevated by the monarchists.

On the subject of electing a Head of State, the powers of the office should be tightly clarified in the constitution as a ceremonial position, viz;

As ‘Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces’
Chair of the Executive Council with the instrument to effect legislation.

The commissioning of members of the High Court on advice of the Executive
Government as contained in the Constitution, plus;

To be Principal Companion and Administrator of the ‘Order of Australia’

‘Head of State - The Thread that Binds the Fabric’; the position should be ‘The Conduit–The Trinity’ between The Parliament, The Executive and The Judiciary.

The position should remain known as Governor General so as to maintain the status quo and thus eliminating any false misunderstanding that the Head of State (or ‘President’) usurps the Executive Government

Dear JMCC,

What you are suggesting has been proposed
in the previous Republic deabtes - and
it is a step in the right direction.

If it would not have been for John Howard's
interference during the last Referendum -
your proposal may have been achieved earlier.

We do need to start with small steps and win
over the monarchist factions with enticements
that appear to be the status quo.

As I stated previously, it is a step in the right
direction. We need to start somewhere.

Now what about the flag?

Foxy,
One step at a time.
new flage YES
Say the current flag witout the 'Jack'
Just a simple flag depecting our place
in the univerce by the southen cross
Plus the 'Federation Star'

Dear JMCC,

My husband had sent in that very design to the
PM's office with the Federation Star replacing
the Union Jack and the Southern Cross tilted at
sixty degrees. (That's how it's sometimes viewed
in the sky, as the earth moves around the sun).

But, you're right, one step at a time.

Removing the Union Jack.. would cut us off from centuries of history.

I don't think such a move would find popular support.. oh.. it might if you bring in umpteen zillion non British or Commonwealth migrants...hey now that's an idea....

I'm all for an Australian head of state, with our current model of government. That is, a Governor-General (why not keep the name, too - it is a link with our past and a reminder that we're not America) with executive but no legislative power. Essentially, cut the Queen out of the picture and keep the rest as it is.

I'm also fine with changing the flag. I like it as it is, and at the end of the day we cannot deny the Britishness of our history (and, in reality, our institutions will retain a very British flavour), but if the people want a new flag, I'm not going to argue.