gadj1976 wrote:RB wrote:gadj1976 wrote:The Bedge wrote:Let's just become a Republic now.
I hear this a lot from time to time but serious question, what would the benefit be?
The benefit would be that the head of state of Australia is an Australian. Also, the person would be selected on merit rather than inheriting the position from their parent.
Yes, I know that, but how would it BENEFIT us? Decision making? I seriously don't know, hence asking.
I see an Australian becoming head of state of Australia as a benefit in itself. I think the symbolism - Australia being an independent, mature nation, rather than one where its citizens owe allegiance to a foreign monarch - would enrich our body politic.
In terms of impact on our day-to-day lives, the impact would be almost zero.
Bum Crack wrote:Why fix something that ain't broken?
To me, a system whereby a person becomes sovereign because of who their parent was (etc.), and where no Australian could ever become our head of state, and where Australians essentially have no say in this, is definitely a broken system.
That is not to say that I would support any major constitutional changes - certainly I support the Westminster system of government. However I think becoming a republic is an important, albeit limited, step for Australia.