On the Australian republic movement
Jock Webb writes: Re. “On new pushes for an Australian republic” (Friday)
In response to Joe Boswell — we will never become a republic unless we begin by voting to be one. Donald Trump has become the best example of the disasters of a US-style president. But surely we must eventually have a head of state.
I want our head of state to cheer for us, not bloody England. I agree it is not as simple as it sounds, but it cannot be beyond the intellect of our best legal minds. Ireland can do it, Germany can do it, their presidents do not compete with the elevated government. But how long do we remain a colony under the bullshit notion that the GG, currently an example of why generals are not useful in many situations outside the army, is the head of state?
Richard Barlow writes: Re. “On new pushes for an Australian republic” (Friday) We do seem to be stuck in a moment, both in republicans antipathy towards the direct election of a President, like the Irish, and our inertia in rewriting the constitution’s ‘act-of-a-foreign-parliament’ preamble, and the sections relating to Aboriginals.
The pre-occupation with symbolic issues, such as the republic or the flag, or with legalistic issues such as MP’s citizenship, is no substitute for effective policies and actions regarding the every increasing portents of global climate disruption and nuclear war.
I endorse without reservation Jock’s view that Australia needs its own head of state. I can also agree with Jock that Ireland and German have both been very well served by their respective heads of state.
Interestingly, in Ireland the head of state is directly elected by the citizens, in Germany by a joint sitting of the German parliament (my own preferred option for Australia).
Importantly however, both systems work perfectly well. For both countries.
There is absolutely no excuse for Australia to keep clinging to its colonial past.
Disclaimer: I’m an Australian on non-British heritage, like the majority of Australians today.