Yuyutsu,

A move towards a new country in terms of clear goals, aims and objectives for beyond 2015 can be very positive, in terms of looking forward in a range of directions, not just mine. Living in a past environment (and keeping what some may consider good elements - and that is open to interpretation of course), but not allowing any forward thinking, new elements in terms of progression can be denying opportunity in terms of improvement - and there are many vested interests in that regard, unfortunately.

Is Mise and JF Aus,

The view you seem to have in this regard does not make sense economically... what would be the practical advantages of Australia becoming a republic?

In an article: An Australian republic: a worthwhile investment it says:

"For example, whenever a member of the royal family visits Australia - any member, not just the Queen - the Australian taxpayer picks up the tab. For example, it cost us almost $400,000 for a five day tour by Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in 2005 and $1.8 million for a visit by the Queen to Melbourne in 2006. Not paying for royal tours in future will be an ongoing benefit for Australian taxpayers for the rest of the life of the Australian nation."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-07-28/35542

In tough financial times, I'll gladly get rid of these taxpayer funded trips. If I wish to visit the Queen or the Royal family I'll visit them at my own expense, whilst in the U.K.

Dear Nathan,

With due respect, you have not answered my question:

What are your intentions regarding those who live in this continent but do not share the same goals, aims and objectives at yourself? Would it be OK for you to make them miserable in order to have it your way?

So long as you bundle together all people who live in a certain area into a "nation" whether they like it or not, then some people's "forward" and "positive" may spell hell for some others. Do you care?

I sailed through a fair bit of the Solomon islands, in the decade after they gained self government. In very faded paint, many of the public buildings still bore the sign,

"BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS PROTRECTATE".

I was most impressed with the maturity of these people, who had not rushed out & spent limited recourses painting out those signs.

From what we see of our lefties, maturity is most definitely not their strong point. I'll bet many of them have already bought the paint. Of course they don't give a damn that it would cost hundreds of millions, just to change the stationary, for absolutely no advantage.

Meanwhile they will still want more welfare, & the taxpayer to fund stupid things like trams on the Gold Coast, & football stadiums in Townsville. Will they ever learn, that if it won't earn it's cost, it's not worth doing.

Hassy, your idea that everything should be reduced to dollars and cents is typical of right wing conservative thinking, if you can't make a quid out of it, its not worth having. What a boring world it would be if we were to loose sight of the real things in life that matter, and simply concentrate on the mundane superficial nonsense. You mention the Solomon Islands, a place I am yet to visit, although I have spent time in Vanuatu and Fiji etc, Fiji we visit often, not so much as a tourists, but where my partner does some voluntary aid work with children's education. In these place you can observe what can best be described as "the happy poor", people who have little in the way of material things, but are rich in the things which matter most, love, culture. family, contentment etc, things money can't buy. Add in some of the benefits money can buy and you have possibly the ideal life.

NathanJ,
It's not that I agree with creating a republic for the sake of it.

I think it best to leave the republic issue aside until Australia can put together an independent economic development policy and plan that most if not all Australians would be truly proud to be associated with.

If PM Turnbull was to lead newly productive development for example, then I would support newly productive republic policy, and I think many Australians would also.

Yuyutsu,

"Nathan, What are your intentions regarding those who live in this continent but do not share the same goals, aims and objectives at yourself?"

It's not just about myself.

In reality, it not simply about (those, I assume, you would call humans), it is about a new nation and attitudes - and this can include any element. So at a basic level, discussion could or should occur at any level, as any movement is not simply about what I want, or what you may want, or what others may want (in terms of humans).

So being too human centric, and at the same time, not looking into a future of any nature (due to vested interests of many humans), will come at a personal price of humans, not just in Australia, but worldwide and this includes freedom.

A system that we have at present - that has been imposed on humans (in Australia - and this includes the natural environment) can't simply be seen as "good" without some type of in depth assessment or discussion on change.