BJ,

You correctly say, "We are no longer a British penal colony...", so what's the problem? You also say,"our constitution should be modified accordingly". What should be changed? There's a big gap between a voter-approved constitutional change and the massive and expensive switch to a republic that would see a purely ceremonial head of state replaced by another politician.

You keep repeating yourself after that. Your post just advertises what you "personally" believe, which is fine; but you don’t give any solid legal or practical reasons why Australia should become a republic. All sentiment and no substance.

Until there is another referendum on the matter, it remains the case that most Australians disagree with you. You will just have to hope that they will change their minds if and when there is another referendum.

What the people who have had it too easy for too long don't seem to take into consideration is that, when the Constitution was written it was written by people with sense & brains. To change it so that senseless & brainless people can have their silly ways would be as stupid as they are !

Banjo, pleqse give us some names of current potential Presidents that can administer a Constitutional and uphold Western culture that are not politicians or popular celebridies.

individual,

There are no, known, public figures in Australia that could be trusted to write/rewrite our Constitution. Perhaps there are people we don’t know about. Certainly, the pushers for a republic could not be trusted with the task. They all seem to be folk who reckon they know what is wanted, but don't know how to achieve it.

The Australian public has soundly rejected any change to our current arrangements. People of republican persuasion are free to have another go any time they wish. In the meantime, neither party capable of forming a government has a platform on the subject, so it's all hot air.

Of course there are numerous political reasons why
any mention to changing our head of state and making
any changes to our constitution have failed in the
past. These have included poor proposals, fear of change,
political opportunism by governments or oppositions, a
low level of public understanding of constitutional matters,
poor campaigning and sheer inertia or public disinterest.

Constitutional change as well as cutting ties with the Crown
need not be an uphill battle. There is no reason it should be
shirked.

Instead it should be a spur to produce better proposals for
constitutional change, develop strong and clear arguments for
reform, cultivate widespread public support and under take
vigorous but honest campaigns which put fear mongering and
insults aside. It not only can be done. It should be done.
Allow Australians to decide for themselves.

Well said Foxy!

Out and about this weekend on family business.

BTW I'm working with case number 2. Hoping for a better result than case 1, remember case 1 I failed, Tony might be a good Xmas present, don't know, We'll meet up again next week, and start working things out. Gave Tony a brief last week as to the haps, seems ok.

Hold the fort, the barbarians are at the gates on this one.