Belly,

You've got a lot of idiot mates.

The whole world, with a few sane exceptions, celebrated 2,000 as the Millenium year and they were wrong, by a whole year.
Likewise, Australian Republicans who think that becoming a republic is of any importance whatsoever.

Tell me one, just a teeny one, benefit that would come to the ordinary Australian from us becoming a republic.

//we can aspire to having Prince William as our 'Australian Monarch'//

Sorry to point out the obvious, but he's not Australian. He's English.

//You ask what the benefits would be by remaining a Monarchy?//

No I didn't. I asked: what benefits does the British monarchy offer us that an Australian monarchy wouldn't?

You've talked a lot about the benefits of a monarchy, but made no effort to explain why that monarchy has to be British for a country to enjoy those benefits. Don't the Scandinavian nations, for example, enjoy much the same benefits from their respective monarchies?

//I respond by asking what the benefits are by becoming a republic?//

That's great, but I haven't said we should become a republic. I think we should remain a monarchy, with a different monarch to Britain. Quite easy to do, you just amend our Succession to the Crown Act so that when Her Majesty dies, the succession in Australia flows to an Australian rather than the Prince of Wales. I prefer a model of succession where the monarch is elected, although I realise that some of you are very wedded to the idea of hereditary succession because it's more romantic.

//a higher and independent authority, like the Royal family.//

My, you're quite the obsequious little forelock-tugger, aren't you? Tell me, ALTRAV, do you also believe that the Queen's touch can cure scrofula?

Not sure what you consider so special about the British monarchy, though. Seems to me that any constitutional monarchy is much the same as the next, in terms of the monarch's involvement in governing

How about the millions we would save in not
having to pay for royal visits?
The last Queen's visit in 2011 cost us millions
of dollars, then there was Charles and Camilla's
visit, now we have Prince Harry and his wife.
By becoming a republic we could well use any of
taxpayer money currently spent on the royals on things
that would benefit the average Australians.
Such as exempting first home buyers from stamp duty
altogether - helping with homelessness, putting food
on people's tables and son on.

How about that? Is that good enough for you?
Or would you still rather support these people -
who have money of their own and are more than capable to
pay for themselves?

The Polish Lithuanian monarchy.

The political doctrine of the Commonwealth was our state is a republic under the presidency of the King. Chancellor Jan Zamoyski summed up this doctrine when he said that "The King reigns but does not govern". The Commonwealth had a parliament, the Sejm, as well as a Senat and an elected king . These came from royal families so some British spares could do the job or unemployed German royals. They would get rent assistance if they do a few royal visits each week.

Ise Mise! bloke I respect you! every bit as much as you respect me, ZERO.
You in that post, gee in almost every one! tell me the world is full of idiots only you are right.
ruok?
52.4 percent are quite mad Ise Mise told me.
Bloke think about it

Belly,

You described yourself as a moron and I respect your opinion.

But, you and I know that you are not, your stupidity is contrived as an analysis of your posts shews.