The republic of Australia.

originally posted by: MegaSpace

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa

originally posted by: MegaSpace
Last referendum was for parliament to select & vote for the president, this was rejected by the people as clearly so undemocratic and rightly so.

Can you please expand on your anti-independent stance on Australia's political structure?

I just want to establish whether your loyalty is with the crown. Which would indicate that your a complete sell out, when it comes to establishing an independent Great Southern Land.

Why are us Aussies so weak minded, when it comes to establishing a country of our own?

Sell out is the ones who seeks to remove the westminster system of government which we have enjoyed since parliament was established in 1901 which is considered to be most stable system in politics. And why change to something unknown & untested?

Under what logic do you consider our current form of government stable, fair or effective?

We've been blessed with economic prosperity until now, simply because of the mining boom. But that's now coming to a close. Fact is, our government can (and does) currently strip us of our rights at will.

Freedom of speech in our country is currently purely at the governments digression. The people need to stand up to TPTB and change that fact, in order to make freedom a born right!

We can only achieve born rights, by becoming an independent country.

a reply to: Subaeruginosa

Let me guess. You don't have British ancestry in your family. Probably Greek or some such.

The majority of those who want to keep Australia's link to The Crown are of British origin. That is why the vote for a Republic is never won.

When the majority of The Australian populace have non British origins the Republicans may win the day.

Why are us Aussies so weak minded, when it comes to establishing a country of our own?

a reply to: Subaeruginosa
Its easy to generalize and say Aussies are weak minded, but the truth is maybe worse. Aussies appear to be weak minded because the majority of them live in a corporation, rather than connected to the land mass we call Australia. The other side of the coin is many Australians don’t even know much about there ancestors, or even care. So here we have a society who has lost contact from there roots, perfect for corporate,political and social conditioning. Its really rather sad, but at the same its not just something that is happening there. Its happening where ever people allow it to happen, don’t get me wrong! The past in many of the countries Aussies stem from was never great either. Plenty of stupid Kings and Queens rolling people around as if their were just a string of beans. When you have been abused, you become wise to the abuser and his/her ways. Earthly wisdom, but very handy to know. So my fellow Aussie......Why not give it a go?

originally posted by: MegaSpace
Sell out is the ones who seeks to remove the westminster system of government which we have enjoyed since parliament was established in 1901 which is considered to be most stable system in politics. And why change to something unknown & untested?

That is the reason the vote was lost - those who wanted a "republic" were unwilling to answer some major questions, like:-
1/ Why did they want the change, and how would it benefit Australia.
2/ Exactly what powers would "El Presidente" actually have.
3/ How would "El Presidente" be elected, and what would be they be called.
4/ How could "El Presidente" be dismissed
5/ How much would it cost.
and also
6/ If we voted to become a "republic", would they allow another vote to change back to the current system!

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
Fact is, our government can (and does) currently strip us of our rights at will.

Please explain how becoming a "republic" will change that....

We can only achieve born rights, by becoming an independent country.

We already are a independent country, why do you think becoming a "republic" will give us some mythical "born rights"?

originally posted by: alldaylong
a reply to: Subaeruginosa

Let me guess. You don't have British ancestry in your family. Probably Greek or some such.

The majority of those who want to keep Australia's link to The Crown are of British origin. That is why the vote for a Republic is never won.

When the majority of The Australian populace have non British origins the Republicans may win the day.

Hmmm, nah your way off dude. Why would a persons genetic make up in anyway influence there political standing, if they were born here?

Btw, for the record, just to show you how far off you are, my mums ancestry is Scottish and my dads ancestry is English and various western European countries, both families have been Australian born for multiple generations.

Anyway.... from my experience Age is a major factor when it comes to not wanting to become a republic. My grandmother (and lots of people in her generation) gets angry at the very prospect of separating from the crown, "it would be disrespectful to the queen" she says, lol. Even though the queen clearly stated she supports Australia becoming a republic.

Then you've got a large majority of the younger generations who just think things are fine the way they currently are. Really though, most Aussies just don't seem to care either way. The only thing most people tend to be ideological about in Australia is football and (to a lesser extent) cricket.

Personally, I think we need to create an identity for ourselves, which is a little more significant than beer and sport. At the very least we should get rid of the union jack and replace it with the Aboriginal one, give the Koories the recognition they deserve.



I'm as patriotic as they come when it comes to our great southern land. But screw our national flag and our current form of government! We to change it.

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
Personally, I think we need to create an identity for ourselves, which is a little more significant than beer and sport.

Why will becoming a 'republic" make that happen?

At the very least we should get rid of the union jack and replace it with the Aboriginal one, give the Koories the recognition they deserve.

What about all the other tribes - do they just get ignored?

But screw our national flag and our current form of government! We to change it.

You still refuse to give a valid reason why they need changing....

a reply to: hellobruce

We already are a independent country, why do you think becoming a "republic" will give us some mythical "born rights"?

Because we'd have to rewrite the constitution. Making freedom of speech a born right would just seem a logical step. Freedom of speech in Australia is currently just a privilege the government allows us. It's not a guaranteed right.

Why will becoming a 'republic" make that happen?

Well it's clearly not going to happen the way things currently stand.

What about all the other tribes - do they just get ignored?

Where did I say we should only recognize one tribe?

You still refuse to give a valid reason why they need changing....

Well, why 'not' become a republic? Sounds like valid enough reason to me.

Australian politics tends to be incredibly bland, nothing of significance ever happens. The politicians and citizens are always to timid (or lazy) to change 'anything' to do with how the country is run.

imo, becoming a republic would be the motivation we need to totally overhaul the way Australia operates.

Im pro republic, I don't like reptilians.

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
Because we'd have to rewrite the constitution.

Please detail why - small sections would have to be changed, but not a whole re-write....

Where did I say we should only recognize one tribe?

Right here " give the Koories the recognition they deserve. " - you are not even aware they are only 1 of many tribes here.

Well, why 'not' become a republic? Sounds like valid enough reason to me.

So you want to change how Australia is governed, cost hundreds of millions of dollars, rewrite the constitution just "because"!

Australian politics tends to be incredibly bland, nothing of significance ever happens.

What do you want to happen, and why do you think becoming a "republic" will change anything?

becoming a republic would be the motivation we need to totally overhaul the way Australia operates.

Why do we have to do that, and why do you think a "republic" would ensure that?

1/ Why did they want the change, and how would it benefit Australia.

The same reason bruce jenner wanted the change, we are an independant nation, we identify as an independent nation so why not get the chop and officially become an independent nation.

2/ Exactly what powers would "El Presidente" actually have.

Xray vision, wolverine's claws, super strength and super speed. that will do for starters

3/ How would "El Presidente" be elected, and what would be they be called.

I dunno maybe he/she can be elected from voting by all Australians rather than in a pissing contest between politicians in a cabinet meeting. We can just call him cobber - Fair Dinkum Cobber of Australia sounds like a good fit for our dear leader.

4/ How could "El Presidente" be dismissed

Well obviously we will need an umpire to preside over the office of cobber, if there are any issues that arise where the Fair Dinkum Cobber needs to be dismissed a simple OUT or NOT OUT will suffice.

5/ How much would it cost.

My guess is less than the NBN and more than Bruce Jenners sex change.

6/ If we voted to become a "republic", would they allow another vote to change back to the current system!

Sure, just keep the chopped off appendages on ice and if we vote to change back we can just stick it all back on. Nothing a bit of blue tack won't fix

On a serious note i think at the very least our flag could do with sprucing up, it is outdated and we no longer need to represent our British history on our national flag imo. A new flag that completely represents Australia and all Australians.

a reply to: hellobruce

Right here " give the Koories the recognition they deserve. " - you are not even aware they are only 1 of many tribes here.

There's no Koori tribe, ya tripper. It's a term Aboriginals use to refer to themselves, usually in south eastern Australia. Though, the term is starting to be adopted by Aboriginals in other parts of Australia. I've heard Aboriginals in the NT refer to themselves as Koori.

It kind of just gives more recognition to there culture to refer to them as Koori, rather than the European term 'Aboriginie', imo. Kind of like saying Uluru, instead of Ayers rock.

Anyway.... I personally feel very passionate about us claiming our 'full' independence, because I think it would be a very positive (symbolic) message to ourselves and the rest of the world that we are a nation of significance and aren't afraid to stand on our own two feet.

You may say it would only be a symbolic gesture.... but so what? Symbolic gestures can be a very powerful force within homo sapien society.

Though, my question is, why do you seem to be so passionately against becoming a republic? Whether it's just symbolic or not, it'd still send a very powerful message to the rest of the world about who we are.

originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
Though, my question is, why do you seem to be so passionately against becoming a republic?

Because no republican will give any good reason as to why change.

it'd still send a very powerful message to the rest of the world about who we are.

Why do you claim that?

a reply to: Subaeruginosa

Perhaps Terra Australis should be named (again) New Holland, and the flag altered to significantly reflect it...or maybe the dwindling indigenous population that were here before anyone decided to thieve the land should be somehow represented...no black on the aussie flag...another poster is correct - once the invasion generations are replaced by the 'new' generation of immigrants (admitedly not of low-life convict stock to populate a glorified penal colony, still licking queenies ring or kowtowing to the british teat), the vote will reflect it. That is when the union jack will disappear, and be replaced by a symbol that represents terra australis that all can unequivocably agree on. In the meantime, Australia will always be confused with new zealand, a proud once warrior nation that does not lick anyones ring...identity problem...much?

Å99

It's not a Republic yet because there was a Referendum and the citizens of Australia said "No".

Just like Citizens of Scotland said "No", and citizens of Quebec said "No".

For all the talk and bluster around the issue of independence, when it comes down to it, not a large enough group really wants to leave the Commonwealth for it to matter.

originally posted by: akushla99
a reply to: Subaeruginosa

In the meantime, Australia will always be confused with new zealand, a proud once warrior nation that does not lick anyones ring...identity problem...much?

Å99

Er ... New Zealand is NOT an independent nation. Queen Elizabeth is Head of State, just like in Australia.

"does not lick anyone's ring" ? Don't make me laugh.

originally posted by: oddnutz
On a serious note i think at the very least our flag could do with sprucing up, it is outdated and we no longer need to represent our British history on our national flag imo. A new flag that completely represents Australia and all Australians.

If you want to represent all Australians, then you need to represent those that want to be part of the Commonwealth.

Removing the Union Flag (it's only supposed to be called a Jack when at sea) from the Australian flag would upset those folks, and therefore would not "Completely represent Australia and all Australians"

originally posted by: babybunnies

originally posted by: akushla99
a reply to: Subaeruginosa

In the meantime, Australia will always be confused with new zealand, a proud once warrior nation that does not lick anyones ring...identity problem...much?

Å99

Er ... New Zealand is NOT an independent nation. Queen Elizabeth is Head of State, just like in Australia.

"does not lick anyone's ring" ? Don't make me laugh.

Reading between the lines (o laughy one) Australia, then is also NOT an independant nation?

Laughing along with You

Å99

a reply to: akushla99

Australia will always be confused with new zealand,

You mean New Zealand will always be mistaken for Australia.