Well said Saltpetre, it's the constitution thing that worries me. Not only unintended consequences, but hidden traps with quiet intended consequences.

Here we have third try, platypus1900 & even Lexi sounding like constitutional lawyers touting for a few billion dollars worth of business, when we have enough real problems requiring attention. I reckon it will cost about a billion in legal fees for every word changed.

I find it really interesting it is often those who want to keep dreadful old buildings because of their "Heritage value", that are at the forefront of wanting to dice our flag, getting rid of our real heritage, & become a republic.

I have mentioned before being impressed with the maturity of Solomon Islanders. I sailed into Gizo Is, the capital of one of their districts. The main warehouse on the wharf had painted in very faded letters, BRITISH SOLOMOM ISLANDS PROTECTORATE.

This was some years after their independence. I was impressed they has spent their money on something more important than covering up their heritage. I wondered if many Australians would show such maturity, & from this thread, I can see many have a way to go to reach that level of maturity.

Lexi if nothing else your thread has reminded me some just do not get it.
Whatever the fate of the ALP in this election we are the bettor for being a party of reform not one of Negativity.
In the strangest of ways we are seeing the result of extremist, yes that is its right name Negativity.
My only question is it representative of our country.
Once no one doubted we had that Aussie mate ship thing going for us.
We are in danger of seeing it die.
Your thread did no more than ask is it time we talked about this.
Some of the contributors have gone right off!
Be thankful it may not be representative of the whole.
And lets us tell it as it is without too falling in to the traps.
It is said that about half of us or our parents came from over seas.
The Australia of say 30 years hence may not want its links to Britain to be so strong.
It will in my opinion be proud enough of this country to openly keep our history but see a new anthem /flag/ and yes a President.
Or we can curl up in to a ball screaming about Labor plots, how funny is that?

Belly, "some just do not get it"

LOL, I bet you didn't get an invite to Julia Whatshernams's housewarming of her $1.8million bungalow either.

You really need to eschew rooting for your 'team' who,

a) wouldn't know you are alive and wouldn't care either,

b) bear very little resemblance to what Labor once was (think aims, values and ethics), and

b) aren't a team anyhow.

There is no money. The feds have ramped up taxes, brought in user pays (where you pay twice for what you get) and they have cut services and benefits.

For instance, there is not enough to pay for Medicare. Many on fixed incomes and low wages are not seeking medical attention where they need it because they can't afford to do so.

The public are slowly becoming aware (or at least I hope so) that the politicians from both sides are over-optimistic about the estimated rising government tax receipts, and they are under-estimating the increases in outgoings. The Greens couldn't care less about the federal budget because as a protest party they depend on the serially upset.

Specifically, what will you cut out to pay for what you want?

Second, how will you reimburse business for the costs of your change? Think about the direct and indirect ways the changes you want affect business and all layers of government.

Third, who can rely of the very people who have stuffed everything else up to dabble with the Constitution, Flag and so on?

Our Constitution was eneacted by the British Parliament.

We have a system that was designed for the needs of
1901 rather than those of 2013. For example - Australia's
federal system was drafted in the age of the horse and
buggy, and it shows.

The result today is a Constitution and federal system that
distorts government priorities and policy outcomes to the
great cost of the community.

We have a system that can produce major failures of
public policy with major financial impacts.

One recent study by the Business Council of Australia has
found that problems with our federal system result in
every Australian family paying an unnecessary $1100
in tax every year. Overall, we are taxed an estimated
$9 billion to prop up the Australian federal system. This
wasted money is how much the community pays for the
duplication of services, buck-passing and inefficiency
that bedevils the relationship between our federal and
state governments.

Even this understates the true cost, since it does not
include the money spent by businesses to comply with
unnecessary red tape and extra regulation from multiple
layers of government.

Taking some of these other costs into account, it's been
estimated that the duplication and extra co-ordination
costs in Australia's federation are an astonishing $20
billion a year, 9 per cent of all general government
expenses or 3 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product.

This is an enormous drag upon the economy and the public
purse. It also represents a massive lost opportunity.
A federal system will never operate at peak efficiency
but even if some of this money could be clawed back,
it would represent an enormous funding pool that
could be directed to things like education, and a stronger
national disability insurance scheme.

Our dysfunctional federal system necessarily impacts on
the quality of government services and our capacity to
meet the needs and welfare of the most vunerable in our
community.

The bottom line is: if you care about Australia's schools,
hospitals, aged care, you also need to care about the
poor state of our federal system of government.

Lexi,

Maybe you need to attribute to George Williams from the IA site. He is a republic supporter of course, which you could mention with your attribution.

Lexi, "We have a system that can produce major failures of public policy with major financial impacts."

It was 'the system' that led to the drownings at sea?
It was 'the system' that led to the insulation debacle?
It was 'the system' that led to the stuffing up of family law?
It was 'the system' that led to corruption in unions and Labor?

- Just a few thinkers and there are plenty of other examples.

At least the Left's most outspoken guru Professor Robert Manne conceded that it was the lack of 'foresight' by the Left had resulted in the tragedy of mass drownings. He said that the Howard government’s Pacific solution had been successful in deterring people smugglers.

It is the same mob of trendy academics and self-titled 'Progressives' who advised Rudd and Julia Whatshername who now want free rein to stuff up the Constitution, Flag and democratic structure. They are criticising the parts that are robust, enduring and have shored up political stability.

Let the trendy Left 'Progressives' loose again? Fat chance, say Australians.

Voters can concentrate on putting the rubbish out in Canberra on 7 September 2013. It has been such a long wait.

What is being discussed here is the Republican Debate.
Not diatribes against specific political parties.

The path to the Australian has been a long and
difficult one and the future path will be no easier
even if we are all closely involved at every step.
However perhaps if the path was to be one which
empowers the electorate at every step - such as voting
for a specific constitutional alteration in a legally
binding referendum, would enable political parties or
groups which are divided on the republic - such as the
Liberal and National parties and their Coalition - to
resolve the issue amicably.

However, whether this transpires or not, the possibility
of defeat has never prevented humankind from
attempting onerous tasks.

Nor should it now.