I am so pleased that we're getting a variety of
opinions on this issue.

Just to clarify a few things - For
me the only motive that I had for presenting this
topic for discussion was that I was getting
somewhat tired of all the hoopla of politics.
I thought what with
the fabulous Royal Birth and an election coming up,
this subject would make for a good discussion.

Dear Banjo,

I appreciate your passion on the subject of politics.
But, I'm so passed discussing it.

BTW -
You were the one who brought politics
into this discussion, not me.
And I did ask you to start your own
discussion on that topic.
Which you said you would do.
I do not want to have this discussion diverted
therefore I again ask that you
please do stick to the topic.

As for the Royal baby news? - I am sure that
all of us wish the young Royal couple all the Joy
in the world.

Now back to the topic -

Should the nation consider
such a move during Queen Elizabeth's reign. Or as Mr
Turnbull suggests - wait until her death?

Your views please.

Dear Belly,

My mum hopes to live long enough to get a letter of
Congratulations from the Queen, when my mum reaches
her 100th Birthday. I told mum that that's not for
many years yet - and the Queen may die before she
does. But I couldn't convince mum this wasn't going
to happen. So there you are. Feelings do run deep.

I have to admit as well that RObert's point made
earlier in the discussion - of having the protections
that we currently do have makes me somewhat hesitant
in trying to decide whether it would be a bad thing
to get rid of them. And how it would all work.
I was hoping for some answers in this discussion.

I guess I'll have to wait and see.
My views are not set in concrete by any means.

Dear spindoc,

Sorry, I don't get the point that you're
trying to make.
I thought you merely suggested that we
should wait six years or so before
kick-starting this debate again. Which is
fair enough. What exactly did I miss?

only see the Conservative side of politics using fear and loathing.
Belly,
Of course because what Labor are doing is scary for anyone with an ounce of concern for Australia's future.

Lexi,

You're cute, devious but cute. Ideologically dependent but cute, naïve but cute, unicorn hugging but cute, myopic but cute, pretentious but cute, transparent but cute and above all cute but Cute.

There is a third option that will please both sides.

Why not keep the current system but appoint our own home-grown Monarch?

He/she would have no political power or purpose beyond being just a "figurehead" while the entire family would be maintained in a state of taxpayer funded luxury and create endless content for local magazines and tourism opportunities.

Since there is no specific talent or skill required for the role, the ruler could be just picked randomly from a national lottery.

wobbles,

You present a compelling case for better citizenship and civics education is Australia. Either that or voluntary voting.

General comment
There is worth in considering what prevents Australians from pursuing a republic.

But wait a bit, maybe those reasons are very obvious and compelling. One being that any nation that doesn't even respect its own culture and traditions and is constantly subjected to the diversification-and-multiculturalism-it-has-to-have doesn't have the bottle to stand up for itself and claim its own place in the world and in history.

The first question is whether the leaders we have and especially the senior political figures from all parties actually respect and would defend the Australian culture, way of life and things we hold dear to our hearts. The only PM that did that in recent times was PM John Howard and he was castigated for it by the very 'Progressives' who want Australians to trust them to cobble together a Republic Australia. Fat chance of that, given their stuff-ups in the social reengineering they have fiddled through so far, with agreements made behind closed doors.