The republic

July 10, 2003 ·  

I was invited recently to speak at a conference in Albury on the notion that Australia should have more states or regional government. Unfortunately I couldn’t attend.

The organiser had seen a letter I wrote to the Border Mail regarding the republic issue.

I can’t find the letter, but in essence I said that changing our head of state was cosmetic and unnecessary; that the role of states was a bigger constitutional challenge and more real in its everyday significance.

I’ve wavered over several years on the republic. The position I keep coming back to is that I can’t see any reason to change except symbolism. It then becomes an argument about tradition.

My Irish surname suggests I shouldn’t wish to retain the monarchy in this country, but that’s a furphy. Most Irish were loyalist or apathetic until Easter 1916.

For me the symbolism of our constitution is greater than the individual monarch or what happened in recent generations.

I like the fact we can visibly trace our political, legal and social development back over a thousand years. We inherited a fine system of government and nobody has yet established a better system than representative democracy under the Crown.

Part of the problem with today’s debate is that the symbols aren’t properly taught or respected.

It isn’t “tugging your forelock” or unpatriotic to respect the head of state as the new breed of left wing nationalists would have us believe.

Twenty years ago there were oaths of allegiance and photographs of the Queen in public places. You rarely hear a loyal toast today and few places display the Queen’s picture.

The Labor Party, and in particular the Socialist Left faction, is driving the agenda with support from the loony Far Left. Most other people are apathetic or sympathetic. Few feel strongly enough to challenge the prevailing wind of public opinion.

That’s why I’d like to broaden the debate to include real constitutional reform. If we must change let’s make it meaningful.

Changing the head of state will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Just think about it: coinage, military uniforms, navy ships, government stationery, the Coat of Arms, Victorian flag, etc.

If you ask at a referendum if Australia should become a republic, most people will answer yes.

If you ask: Should taxes rise and a billion dollars be spent to make a cosmetic change to the Constitution? I know what the answer would be.

I say we shouldn’t become a republic unless we also seriously address the issue of more states (or regional government) and the power of states and local government.

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