I put this in IMHO because i don’t really want to debate it, I’m just curious about other Australians thoughts on the issue.
Personally i don’t really see any reason to change from out current state but I’m certainly open to the idea of us breaking free from the British empire.
Do any Brits feel strongly about Australia becoming a republic?
Anyone else interested feel free to post your opinions too.
I’m in favour of becoming a republic, but I think we have more important things to deal with first.
I don’t see that it matters either way. I have no problem with the status quo.
The internal constitutional arrangements of a country are for those people to thrash out. I have no opinion.
If I were Australian, I would be against it. The nation’s connection to the British monarchy has lasted a long time, is a valuable tradition and a net good. I see no reason to change it. Wasn’t there a referendum a few years ago that came to the same conclusion? Ah, yes, in 1999. For more info: Republicanism in Australia - Wikipedia
The referendum voted against a particular form of republic. Overall polling at the time was firmly, if not overwhelmingly so, in favour of “republic of unspecified nature”, but the referendum had to present a specific option, which was deliberately made unpalatable by the monarchists.
If I were Australian I’d vote for a Republic. I doubt it matters too much really one way or another though. I doubt it would matter much if the United Kingdom became a republic or series of republics.
You asked whether any Brits have strong feelings about the matter. I’d say no, in my experience most Brits don’t really think too much about it. Other Brits may have different experiences, of course. The referendum in 99 was in the news, of course, but it wasn’t dinner-table conversation anywhere I went.
Personally, I think Australians should do whatever they feel is best for their own country.
If Australia gets to be a republic then I’d like to be one too, please. But given it’s more likely they’ll achieve republic status before us I say go for it, it’s not like us sharing the same head of state really means much in practical terms.
(my emphasis added)
The British Empire breathed its last in 1947, when India gained her independence. Even prior to that, the dominions, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Irish Free State and South Africa, had complete self governance, from 1931 or later when they ratified the Statute of Westminster. From that Wikipedia article, Australia ratified the Statute in 1942, backdated to 1939.
If you mean to break free from the Commonwealth of Nations, can I ask why you think that’s a good idea?
Becoming a republic? I’m not that concerned either way.
But first I’d really rather we get our priorities straight regarding freedom of speech/information.
And an R18+ rating for games.
I haven’t heard an argument yet that really convinces me of the need to change the current constitutional arrangements. And it’s not even worth discussing until the pro-republic forces can agree among themselves on what they want.
What makes you say that? Please don’t tell me you’re basing your opinion on the 1999 referendum.
Sneaky monarchists.
I’m also curious how yes/no vote on that referendum broke down demographically — does anyone know? Was there a big split between young and old? Or a regional split? Urban versus rural?
Not an Australian, but who would be head of state? An appointed Governor General who is not a representive of the Queen? Or an elected President?
It ain’t broke.
I see no reason to become a republic. I agree there are much more important matters than require attention.
However, I suspect many Australian will feel differently once Queen Elizabeth II passes. To the majority of Australians, she’s been head of state our entire lives, offering a kind of stability that a string of presidents wouldn’t.
I see little difference between the two. On the one hand, the ties to the British Monarchy are archaic - we stopped being their lapdogs sometime after the Singapore fiasco. On the other hand, the Commonwealth of Australia sounds cooler than the Republic of Australia.
Tough choice. But if there were another referendum on the issue tomorrow, I would probably vote pro-Republic (depending on the nature of the Republic, if specified.)
This, of course, is the rub.
The Republican movement has always been divided into two general groups. Those who figure a more-or-less appointed HoS like the Governor-General presently is will attract national hero types (retired admirals, generals, judges, etc) who make great figureheads and who would not be interested or even get a look-in if there was some sort of vote involved. This mob also fear the shift of tectonic plates factor that is likely to occur if you have an elected President added to the present system. Another power base might disrupt the otherwise steady state of things in unpredictable ways. And if you elect a President, all you will attract are political flacks.
On the other hand, there is the mob who like the idea of an elected President. More democratic. Works elsewhere, so what’s the worry? These people actively campaigned against the model of an appointed President, fearing that an appointed President would be a “puppet”.
My guess is that until there is a clear winner on this debate, the ideal of being our own masters is going to struggle to beat the pro-status quo camp that figures “if it ain’t broke…” because no one group will get a clear majority sufficient to drive Constitutional change.
That was my thought, that most Brits didn’t really care, but recently i met a Brit living in Australia, and when the group we were with started talking about Australia becoming a republic he stated that he’d leave immediately and not return, and seemed to think that Australia being a republic was nigh the end of the world. I certainly didn’t expect that to be a common feeling but it made me curious to ask.
I was being tongue in cheek with the British empire comment. I don’t have very strong feelings on Australia being a republic, as I said in the first post, i don’t see any reason for us to change.