Australia's Gillard backs republic after Queen's death

[The Lawspeaker]

Australia's Gillard backs republic after Queen's death (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-10995425)

Australia should become a republic when Queen Elizabeth II dies, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said just days ahead of a general election.

Welsh-born Ms Gillard said the Queen's death would be an "appropriate point" for Australia to move away from having a British monarch as head of state.
Australians voted against becoming a republic in a 1999 referendum, but the issue continues to be divisive.

Ms Gillard's main opponent, Tony Abbott, is a staunch monarchist.
Up until now the question of an Australian republic has hardly featured in this election campaign.

The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says even in this strongly patriotic country it is not considered an urgent national priority and Julia Gillard has indicated it won't become one for her Labor government while the Queen is on the throne.

Ms Gillard is a republican herself but says there is deep affection for the 84-year-old monarch whom she wished a long and healthy life.

Ms Gillard said that the appropriate time for Australia to move towards a republic was when there was a change in monarch, even if that didn't happen for another decade or more.

[Groenewolf]

The Mad Monarchist (http://madmonarchist.blogspot.com/2010/08/flagrant-treason-in-australia.html)


To repeat, Miss Gillard is the PM, Her Majesty's Prime Minister for the Commonwealth of Australia. She, upon taking office as an MP, swore an oath that she would, "be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors according to law. So help me God!" How in the hell is she keeping her word when she embraces republicanism?!


If she means it she should step down and rerun under a republican program.

[SwordoftheVistula]

Why do they even care?

[Brynhild]

After 2 rejected referendums on this very subject - we actually do care! It wouldn't be the people's vote for the president to be brought in and that's why it has been rejected and will again. The politicians will not have their way on this cause.

I'm not a monarchist by any stretch of the imagination, but I would prefer a model which gives me the right to decide who rules my nation.

[Albion]

Its a pretty stupid thing to suggest during an election, she'll lose the vote of the monarchists because of that probably and if I'm correct last time the monarchist and republican elements were near-equal.

[Brynhild]

Its a pretty stupid thing to suggest during an election, she'll lose the vote of the monarchists because of that probably and if I'm correct last time the monarchist and republican elements were near-equal.

Nowhere near equal, and we still are in a hung parliament situation, so the budgie smuggler hasn't won any friends either.

[Albion]

Nowhere near equal, and we still are in a hung parliament situation, so the budgie smuggler hasn't won any friends either.

I was talking about the referendum on republic vs monarchy years ago, I thought it did come out around even, but I think the republicans didn't quite have enough support did they?

[Brynhild]

I was talking about the referendum on republic vs monarchy years ago, I thought it did come out around even, but I think the republicans didn't quite have enough support did they?

So was I. It was an overwhelming no back then and it's evn more so now, regardless of whether or not Julia brought it up. We have better concerns to address, like who's going to govern our country.

[Albion]

So was I. It was an overwhelming no back then and it's evn more so now, regardless of whether or not Julia brought it up. We have better concerns to address, like who's going to govern our country.

Yes, that is more important. I hope you get a decent government.

[Wulfhere]

There are currently 16 countries round the world that continue to recognise the British monarch as their head of state. Mostly a collection of small Caribbean islands, plus the major nations of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I would propose a policy of largely restricting immigration to those countries that share our monarch, so in the long term it would benefit Australia to retain the constitutional links.

[Albion]

There are currently 16 countries round the world that continue to recognise the British monarch as their head of state. Mostly a collection of small Caribbean islands, plus the major nations of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I would propose a policy of largely restricting immigration to those countries that share our monarch, so in the long term it would benefit Australia to retain the constitutional links.

Australia could and has done that in the past anyway. They've had the white Australia policy, what did we have? The bloody Empire windrush, that's what.
I don't think they should be taking any advice from us anytime soon... :rolleyes::rolleyes::thumb001:

[Wulfhere]

Australia could and has done that in the past anyway. They've had the white Australia policy, what did we have? The bloody Empire windrush, that's what.
I don't think they should be taking any advice from us anytime soon... :rolleyes::rolleyes::thumb001:

That may well change though. Something has to.