Do you support Australia becoming a Republic?

[Andy46]

Do you support Australia becoming a Republic?


Open for comment by all members - yes or or no - one day we will have to vote again on this issue no doubt.

[mcpsych]

very interesting so far
the monarchists have voted early and often hehe

[angelbum]

Hi Andy,

for me - it's OVERWHELMINGLY YES!!! I'd vote a million times if I could

[sundaymorningstaple]

Sure, why not, one more banana republic won't make that much difference will it?

[mcpsych]

SMS- i trust that you consider singapore in that category- given it has a regime closer to dictatorship that democracy

[cobie_lee]

I voted no.. The last country to cut its self off from the "mother country" lost trade and other stuff for a good few years, and we need trade for our economy.. Also i like knowing that if the queen really got the sh**s with the politicians in parliment she could practically give them the boot (im not big on political, but i dont support half the stuff our government tries to pass).. I would hate to think of any of our politicians becoming presidents, rather than prime ministers...

[Andy46]

I agree - the question still begs an answer - WHO WOULD YOU PUT IN AS PRESIDENT OF AUSTRALIA - a very scary thought when you look at what we call a democracy - two leaders - one or the other !!!! - Not many politicians spring to mind as being noble figure heads and leaders above reproach.

and to quote

"
President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, trade unions, universities, and countries. Etymologically, a "president" is one who presides, who sits in leadership (from Latin pre- "before" + sedere "to sit"; giving the term praeses). Originally, the term referred to the presiding officer of a ceremony or meeting (i.e., chairman), but today it most commonly refers to an official. Among other things, president today is a common title for the heads of state of most republics, whether popularly elected, chosen by the legislature or by a special electoral college. It is also often adopted by dictators."

Leaves me thinking hard every time - and anyway if its not broke why fix it !!!

[angelbum]

But guys - what on earth does 'the mother country' do for us?

When has the Queen EVER stepped in to solve govt problems/fix health system/improve infrastructure? And how could our trade partnerships possibly change at all? I'm pretty sure the Queen/England DIDN'T negotiate those deals. And how embarrassing that last referendum when Aust voted No to republic, most of Britain asked 'WHY NOT?"...

She is merely a 'figure' head - who has no relevance to modern Australia whatsoever

We're like annoying teenagers who fail to leave mum and dad's house... it's time for Australia to grow up!

(sorry to rant - I'm just very passionate about Australia becomming a republic... )

[mcpsych]

the problem andy is that it is broken- we have a person as head of state who is there due ti inheritance ( reminiscent of dictatorships) and who represents britain when it comes to trade etc and who on a whim can dismiss our elected government. A popularly elected president ( open to anyone who wants to run) based on the french system of fixed terms would work. But-- why do we need a president anyway. There is nothing wrong with our parliamentary system. It has enough checks and balances and is quite responsive to the electorate on average evry 3 years. All we need to do is get rid of the governor general.

[Andy46]

That would be ok - just abolish it and leave it as the Prime Mister elect as such with the powers and checks and balances of the parliament.
It would save a lot of money and actually it could be the Australian of the year who holds the title in a position for 12 months only with no powers and merely an ambassadorial role

Andy

[mcpsych]

yes, but- the australian people must get to vote on aussie of the year- it could be done easily through the net useing unique identifier like medicare number.

[Andy46]

Yes that would be a good idea - see we can think of things ourself with out being told how to do it by over paid spin doctors on behalf of over paid pollies !!!!!!! This method cost us nothing to come up with !!!

Andy

[Fang63]

Hmmm, the president doesn't necessarily have to have any powers she/he could be performing a ceremonial role as per the current governors and governor general with some emergency powers. Currently the queen has zero role in the running of our country and rubber stamps legislation through the G-G. I think that we have a great country and in general is run well, great economy, high standard of living, good health care (look o/s before u say otherwise). As an example of a former monarchist country now a republic look at Canada. They seem to manage. We survived the introduction of GST we should be able to manage not having the queens head on our money hehe.

Vote 1, Andy for President

[sundaymorningstaple]

Originally Posted by mcpsych

SMS- i trust that you consider singapore in that category- given it has a regime closer to dictatorship that democracy

Have you actually been in Singapore? Have you had the opportunity to actually experience her "dictatorship" as you call it. It's also a parliamentary democracy given by the British as is yours I believe? It has two parties. As does yours I believe? And, unlike yours, one is basically impotent while the other has been in power since 1965's independence. The fact that the primary party, the PAP, is controlling everything says more about the quality of leaders than it says about a dictatorship. The opposition has no credibility as they (the opposition) think by being the "oposition" it must oppose everything, whether good for the country or not. Therefore, it has no credibility and fortunately, because they do not have any reasonable alternative, they are effectively a joke.

At least that way, the main party has been able to turn a backwater port into a financial and shipping powerhouse and created a country that has a 1st world infrastructure and a standard of living equal to anything in any western country. Somehow, the benefits seem to outweigh outside attitudes of those who have never been to nor lived in this "little red dot". We could do worse I guess, we could have two ineffectual parties like Australia does with a union so strong it cripples the country any time it feels like.

That ought to ruffle a couple of feathers!

[mcpsych]

yes i have been to singapore on a number of occassions- quite like the place especially the absolute control over civil liberties.
i am not sure you have ever been to australia as your statements appear to reflect the ignorant reports of overseas journalists.
back to the original argument- getting rid of the royalty does not make a banana republic, i would point out that australia is the only OECD country to not enter recession due to the GFC, has a strong parliamentary system with two houses ( which provides checks and balances) and a population that is willing to hold the incumbent to question at the ballot box. Unionism evolved from the right to free association .The right to withdraw labour is an inalienable human right ( except of course in some countries).
How are your feathers?

[baloo]

Originally Posted by mcpsych

yes i have been to singapore on a number of occassions- quite like the place especially the absolute control over civil liberties.
i am not sure you have ever been to australia as your statements appear to reflect the ignorant reports of overseas journalists.

As an Australian who has been living in Singapore for over 10 years, I can only say that your views of Singapore are more inline with ignorant overseas journo reports than SMS's comments were about Australia.

With regards to this topic, I cannot for the life of me understand any Australian that doesn't think that our country is now mature enough to stand up on it's own two feet and become a Republic with an Australian Head of State.

Time to cut those apron strings. Actually, the time was probably in 1988. Now we're just long overdue.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Yes, I have been to and worked in Australia for almost a year back in the early '90's.

I brought the very first non-Australian Flag vessel into the Joint Zone of Cooperation area between Australia and Indonesia (The ZOCA as it was/is known. I was the one who was tasked with trying to gain some level of cooperation from the Australian Wharfie's union & Tidewater Marine and using Darwin as a Crew Change and tran-shipment/refueling/re-supplying/refueling stop for our Seismic Survey vessel.

Interesting, to show you how backward they can be, I had a vessel working with two Captains on board. The Australian one just rode the vessel and didn't do squat. But he was an Australian Captain, and the union insisted that we had to have an Australian captain on an American vessel because half of the time we were in Australian Waters and half the time in Indonesian waters (we didn't need an Indonesian captain though). The captain didn't actually pilot the vessel, just slept and ate and crapped there.

Working with the wharfies in Darwin proved to be an interesting situation as well. They'll not work overtime. We eventually got it sorted when I found out they'll stay late for free with several iced down slabs of Tooey's in the eskys in the back of me Holden Estate. and I actually worked in Darwin, Broome and Cairns (with a month in the middle in Port Moresby as well).

So yes, I am very well acquainted with both Australia, Australians, and the unions there. I daresay, on the union front, I might even have a bit more knowledge than you on that bit. The banana republic was just a jab though. I don't, for the life of me understand the attachment with the queen though. I think it's a concept that is long overdue for retirement.

[mcpsych]

so working here for a year gives you more knowledge of our unions and union movement than someone who has been on both sides of the movement for 30 odd years- yeh right.
our maritime unions have done more for foreign nationals working flag of convenience ships than any other group or country. you should know that and respect it.

[fornight]

You know the two worst topics in the world?

Religion and Politics!

Maybe we should end this thread? It is getting a tab bit too tense.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Spoken like a true unionist.