Dear David F.,

I agree with Bill Shorten when he writes
that our Constitution came into
being as an act of the British government.
He then points out that
one hundred and fifteen years later our nation
has changed, our place in the world has changed,
and our Constitution should change with it.

The Republic debate is a chance for all of us to
bring our Constitution home, to vote our
National Birth Certificate into existence as an
Australian document for our times as an expression
of the sovereign will of all Australians, where
unlike in 1901 the voices of women and Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people will be heard.

Bill Shorten tells us that
it will be a great day for all of us, confident in our
Australian identity, so we can declare to the world
that we're running the place ourselves.
An Australian Republic, with an Australian Head of
State. It's an important step, long overdue.

Dear Foxy,

Why do we need a head of state? It is important that we live in a just land. I do not regard it as important whether or not that just land is attached in some way to England. Why do we need to be an independent nation? A strong national identity can lead to war and other conflict with other nations that also have a strong national identity. I prefer a lessening of national identity and a greater realisation that we share this planet with other humans and members of other species. Polluted air and water cross national boundaries.

The British government set up pastoral leases that recognised Aboriginal rights. It was the local people who ignored those rights and massacred Aborigines. I think it's important that we recognise our humanity and the humanity of others whether they are inside or outside of the political boundaries of Australia. The 'sovereign will of all Australians' is a bit of nonsense political rhetoric. I would not lament the disappearance of all political boundaries or their conversion to merely administrative boundaries.

Nationalism is the curse of the drinking classes.

Dear David F.,

I think that having a Head of State who's not
aligned or attached to any political party -
would be preferable to having a politician
in the job. That of course is simply my
preference. Many countries have a President
as well as a Head of State and it seems to
work well.

David F,

I agree with you (no, this is not a cruel joke). A 'head of state' is indeed just another snout in the trough. We need people we elect to do our bidding, plus the ability to kick them out when they don't. Any 'figure' apart from people elected by the people is surplus to our needs.

Dear Foxy,

Why do we need a head of state of any description? We have a governor-general and governors of the various states. They all have superb residences and extensive staffs. IMHO they are all unnecessary.

I agree Davidf, but for different reasons than you.
The Governor General is a relic of our ties with Britain.

We need a Republic as we can now stand on our own two feet and don't need Britain to 'guide' us or to 'settle disputes'.
With being a republic, we don't need to follow what other countries do, government wise. We can decide our own way of doing things.