I got the idea for this discussion from
columnist Virginia Trioli's recent article
in the Weekly Review Magazine in which she
writes that -

"I think Australia is ready for a President.
In fact, I think we've been ready for one for
quite a while."

She says that "The advent of so-called Presidential-style
politics in this country is no coincidence, nor is it
a media confection. Australians, like voters around the
world, have become increasingly disenchanted with
political parties and often mediocre talent gathered
within. Membership has collapsed, political professionals
have taken over, party platforms have completely lost
their meaning and relevance. "

"Voters appear to pay scant attention to the position of a
party and instead focus all their hopes on one person,
one leader."

Trioli reminds us that the leader is supposed to
be simply representative of the party, one person elected
by the group to serve at the pleasure of the party ...
Except Trioli points out - that's not how it has played
out at all, at least not since John Howard's time.

And since then as we've seen all PMs have followed Howard's
lead.

Trioli says, "So, why don't we abandon the pretence that
we vote for parties and instead elevate the one
person we think might actually have a vision for the
country?"

She's right. If our leaders are going to keep behaving
like "one-person bands," wouldn't (shouldn't) we as Trioli
says -" at least
like a direct say in who sings the song?"

Your opinions please.

@threadstarter

one thing i know, we do not have to be tied to the royalty

it is so dated

mother england sent us so many criminals and the physically and mentally retarded
such genes are still lurking quietly in our midst
one of such genes is not having the ability to write simply .. hhh :)

no wonder we have so many social issues... the highest per capita compared to any first world countries

I'm not sure switching to a President is that easy or that it will improve anything. People had high hopes Obama would change the world. Love him or loath him, he hasn't delivered much other than alienating most of the American population. He was also completely stymied by a hostile opposition which held the majority.

I'm also at a loss to see who in Australia might be charismatic enough to inspire the people into accepting whatever it takes to grow the economy, reduce the debt, and protect our borders. (Obama's failure to protect the border is his biggest failing) People want security and hope for a positive future.

Also, a three year term is flawed as it generally doesn't provide enough time to achieve much without ruffling feathers and then getting punished at the next election.

I'd be happy with an Enlightened monarch or a benevolent dictator running things. But whoever, in whatever position is our Leader, at some point in time we have to give them a chance to perform and also accept that we cannot all get what we want.

People need to become less politically self interested and more willing to sacrifice/accept what's best for the greater good. Like that is ever going to happen.

I threw in this topic for discussion not
because I want this to be a proxy for a
reheated Republican debate but because I'm
starting like Virginia Trioli to genuinely
believe it's time for Australia as Trioli
points out "to rethink our
political system and looking at the dysfuntional
mess our Federal Parliament has become, I can see
more and more compelling arguments for a change
to a presidency, with all the powers of one
popularly elected leader but with the accountability
of a bicameral house of representatives."

Long overdue i would say. The question needs to be asked at the next election. Yes or No. Then work out what sort of republic we need to create.
Howard muddied the water that badly with his plebiscite and utter b/s.
Republic of AU.

It doesn't look like this discussion is going
to take off so I'd like to thank those who did
find the time to contribute.

I look forward to finding another topic that we
can all debate in the future.

Enjoy your day,