Republic Debate Re-emerges in Australian Election Campaign

Elections for Australia's next prime minister are only four days away. And today, the two top candidates sounded off on whether they think the nation should become a republic and elect its own head of state.

On Tuesday, Australian prime ministerial candidates Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott revealed their visions about Australia becoming a republic.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard admitted that she was a republican, but believed the right time would only come for such a move when the monarch changes in the UK.

[Julia Gillard, Australian Prime Minister]:
"I obviously am a republican, I believe this nation should be a republic, I also believe that this nation has got a deep affection for Queen Elizabeth. What I would like to see as prime minister is that we work our way through to an agreement on a model for the republic but I think the appropriate time for this nation to move to being a republic is when we see the monarch change. Obviously I'm hoping for Queen Elizabeth that she lives a long and happy life, and having watched her mother I think there's every chance that she will live a long and happy life, but I think that's probably the appropriate point for a transition."

Liberal party leader Tony Abbott seemed less than enthusiastic to voice support for big changes, only four days before the election.

[Tony Abbott, Liberal Party Leader]:
"The Australian people have demonstrated themselves to be remarkably attached to the institutions that work. I think our existing constitutional arrangements have worked well in the past, I see no reason whatsoever why they can't continue to work well in the future so while there may very well be further episodes of republicanism in this country, I am far from certain that at least in our life times there is likely to be any significant change."

Australia is a federation and constitutional monarchy. The British crown is the head of state, represented by the Governor General who holds a symbolic role.

In a republic referendum in 1999, more than 54% of Australians voted no to replacing the Queen with a president as head of state.

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[Dimitri0809]

Republic all the way.

[matchbox555]

fuck the monarchy

[lastminuteregret]

I don't get it, an elected Head of State for Australia would only be a figurehead. So...honestly, why change it? The monarchy has adapted to performing that duty amazingly well. If Australia had a more Presidential system, like the US, I'd understand. But since you don't have a Presidential system, making this a focus of your political talk is kind of moot and just plain stupid.

[topgunexcel]

Notice how there is no talk of the structure of a republic - Will there be the upper & lower houses, prime minister, president & cabinet (more political elite). Will there be an electorial college & they vote in the president/vice president (open to corruption) or use the original version of a republic and have a one house senate who vote in a president during times of crisis (president is the tool of the senate). Australia has been a republic in all but name since WW2

[steve1mufc]

Your all english anyway, why remove our queen.

[venomousspiderwookie]

@matchbox555 Are you drunk, insane, or do you just assume that if swearing don't work, use all caps? If a republic means YOU would have a say in choosing the head of state, than, indeed, God Save the Queen!

[venomousspiderwookie]

@matchbox555 Such a persuasive argument, how can anyone disagree? :P

[WadeGNSD]

@matchbox555 fuck you

[Adonnus100]

@TheFluffyDuck imperialism is sooo 1500's, living under another nation's influence in very different from approaching into a world union as equals

[smeltriver09]

Monarchism: bowing down to the Queen Bee, is preposterous & idiotic. Australia is a smart, self confident nation to be questioning the absurd ties to Great Britain, which should have long, long time ago been tossed into the sea. Many countries have ditched their monarchies, when they became fully obsolete. Why not Canada, Australia, & New Zealand? Let King Charles the Third reign only in his one appropriate country.

[TheFluffyDuck]

A republic is an utterly redundant idea. Its a waste of time, money and effort. It misses the point.

We live in world of increasing interconnectedness, we have world wide communicates, our economies, trade & transport are interconnected. There are world wide problems of famine, war and global warming, these can't be tackled by one country. Not to mention the emergence of a world wide culture and language.

We need to start moving towards a world government, republics are soo 1700's.