Should Australia become a Republic?

[Trunter]

So, keep it civil, and I'm interested to see what you all think of this concept. There's probably been a topic like this before, but I think it's time for a new one to see where everyone here stands.

[neorion]

Yes, definitely and the sooner the better, but ONLY by peaceful democratic means!

[city_thing]

Oh God, this question again. Expect hordes of arrogant, ignorant twats from the UK to start flooding the thread threatening us with 'imminent destruction' and 'certain moral corruption' if we go down the path of becoming a republic. That's how these threads always turn out. The Empire died so long ago, yet it's still a sore issue for them. The last thread ended with some arse thinking that without the Queen, we would become just another 'horrible America' with social problems coming out of our arses, as we will no longer have the moral guidance of 'Her Highness'.

Fuck, I'm British, and I'm ashamed to be so whenever I see them rant and rave like idiots about this issue.

[SEQ92]

We should split away from the British Queen and get our own

Have auditions for the first Aussie Queen

[Opinionated]

This is a no-brainer. It's embarrassing that we crack jokes about the british, pommies this and pommies that and yet we have one of their symbols on our flag and their monarch is officially our head of a state. I have never being able to work that one out

[tayser]

Oui.

[gappa]

I'm thinking a benevolent (somewhat) dictatorship with praetor gappa watching over you all from his throne (at the top of the worlds highest building).

[Svartmetall]

Originally Posted by city_thing

Oh God, this question again. Expect hordes of arrogant, ignorant twats from the UK to start flooding the thread threatening us with 'imminent destruction' and 'certain moral corruption' if we go down the path of becoming a republic. That's how these threads always turn out. The Empire died so long ago, yet it's still a sore issue for them. The last thread ended with some arse thinking that without the Queen, we would become just another 'horrible America' with social problems coming out of our arses, as we will no longer have the moral guidance of 'Her Highness'.

Fuck, I'm British, and I'm ashamed to be so whenever I see them rant and rave like idiots about this issue.

Nah, I'm going to side with you on this one and I'M British.

Personally I think Australia and Britain have no common ground any more. The countries are far too different (the same way that NZ and Britain are now so different) and so it's better to cut the last remnants of cultural ties you guys have with the UK.

It won't change anything other than you'll have complete autonomy and you'll be able to move forward without feeling you're under the yolk of the British and still feeling like you're a MBE.

Originally Posted by SEQ92

We should split away from the British Queen and get our own

Have auditions for the first Aussie Queen

You could even make it into an awful cheap reality TV show...

[Vanguard]

Originally Posted by city_thing

Oh God, this question again. Expect hordes of arrogant, ignorant twats from the UK to start flooding the thread threatening us with 'imminent destruction' and 'certain moral corruption' if we go down the path of becoming a republic. That's how these threads always turn out. The Empire died so long ago, yet it's still a sore issue for them. The last thread ended with some arse thinking that without the Queen, we would become just another 'horrible America' with social problems coming out of our arses, as we will no longer have the moral guidance of 'Her Highness'.

Fuck, I'm British, and I'm ashamed to be so whenever I see them rant and rave like idiots about this issue.

Most Britons wouldn't have a clue who Australia's head of state is! Even If they did, I'm sure they couldn't care less if Australia becomes a republic.

How will it change anything for Britain?

[Depotmaster]

I think there is no real difference between a republic democracy and a federal republic.
I even think these words already have different meanings in Britain and over there.

[ryan79]

Well I support a republic but at the same time I would love to have closer ties to the UK, in particular with visas. We already find ways to dodge the system so they should just open them up between countries anyway. And also should be a gateway for us into Europe

[Svartmetall]

Originally Posted by ryan79

Well I support a republic but at the same time I would love to have closer ties to the UK, in particular with visas. We already find ways to dodge the system so they should just open them up between countries anyway. And also should be a gateway for us into Europe

No, you can't have things both ways. I, personally, would be highly offended if Aussies, Kiwis and other former commonwealth countries were given even greater opportunity to move to Britain and work there. I'm all for tighter regulations and more closed borders within the EU, Britain included. You Aussies have some amazingly tough regulations for immigration for us, why shouldn't we do the same to you?

There is also absolutely no way that the EU would want increased migration either without going through the proper channels, it's one reason that the UK ancestral passport scheme was tightened up.

[cowface]

Originally Posted by gappa

I'm thinking a benevolent (somewhat) dictatorship with praetor gappa watching over you all from his throne (at the top of the worlds highest building).

I'd love to serve at the pleasure of President Gappa. If he is hawt.

[nazor]

ohh hell yeah!

i think i was only 11 or 12 when this was voted on last time in the 90's but if it comes up again im voting yes!

i just hope we dont lose our Queens birthday public holiday cause if we do then im voting no ....

[GaryinSydney]

I have both British & Australian Citizenship, but i definitely believe we should become a Republic. (So too should England for that matter!)

The flag is a slightly different issue and is somewhat anachronistic with the Union Jack on it (especially as no-one in Britain uses it any more from what i can see - they all have their cross of St Georges now etc.).

So long as Foxtel keep showing "Ladette to lady" & "Are you Being served" I'm happy

"Edward for Queen!" as we used to say.....

[MILIUX]

I think the voting question in the ballot paper should be:

"Do you want King Charles to be engraved in your coins, notes and public oath of alligience for decades to come? If no, then Republic is your final solution."

[andypandy]

Absolutely we should become a republic! There is NO reason not to. Lets do it ASAP.

[redbaron_012]

Doesn't worry me one way or the other...to me we are an independant country already, part of the Commonwealth like Canada is...and as for the Head of State....I'm not a monarchist??? royalist??? whatever, but don't think HRH makes many ..if any day to day decisions about our country...and who would want a political system like America for example??? The flag is another issue....I feel proud when ever I see it flying anywhere around the world....I see it as the Australian flag...not a political tool....eg Liberals seem to like it..labour seems to delete it (The Union Jack) from their backgrounds. Hawaii still has it in the corner of their flag for historic reasons...Although we have changed much and our ethnic makeup is now more diverse our beginnings and history can be seen in the present flag....otherwise you could change it every fifty years or so as coming generations have their own perspective on what is or should be....Australia should be mature enough to accept the past, not try and rewrite it's history and move forward holding things like the flag as a strong link of continuous unity and stability.....For the country and people as a whole.. not just a whim of the present generation. PS...I voted Yes....

[JayT]

I think we should become a republic when the current queen dies. Once the current queen dies then we instantly become a republic and celebrate that day with a public holiday.

Hopefully she will die sometime between July and November as Qld has no public holidays during that end of the year.

Yeah I know I know....

j

[Shumway]

Yes.. good time for a public holiday. I hate that holiday drought after Easter and before Melbourne Cup day.