Wow, this thread certainly went off the deep end.
Ok, on religion, I think it is time for this graphic:
Ok, that's sorted.
I reckon most Australians don't think we should be ruled by a foreign monarch.
Now, some of you may say, what's the problem?
When I was a kid, and I remember this still, some drunkard rep of the monarch sacked an Australian PM. An Australian PM who was voted in for a 3 year term with over 50% of the primary vote less than 1 year earlier. Think about that, some unelected deadshit over-ruled the people. Well, get stuffed, I don't ever want to see that sort of crap again.
Representative democracy has its flaws, not least that it ain't very representative. But it sure beats one person being able to over-rule everyone else.
Simple question - why does the Head of State need to be separate to the Head of Government? There's a lot of talk about how the GG or the King/Queen have just a ceremonial role and just about everything they do is on the advice of parliament or the executive council. Yeah, if that's the case why bother? Cut out the middle human, just let the parliament and/or cabinet decide. The Prime Minister is "appointed" by the GG on the advice of the House of Reps, well why do we need the GG to appoint the PM? We don't. Parliament should be the only body which can appoint or sack the government, not some unelected drunkard living high off the hog on our taxes. Completely unnecessary.
If people feel the need to have a separate Head of State then we should choose who it is, no-one else. The people are sovereign, no-one else, the people should choose the head of state if we have to have one.
DS