Editors Views - Republic Debate ----

One In The Same ----------------------------------------------------------- Email: editor@shootersnews.addr.com

Associated with Port Arthur is the fact that those pushing for Australia to become a REPUBLIC were some of the people behind the massacre at Port Arthur.

Most of the pro Republic lobby is the same group who were pushing the gun grab after Port Arthur ( and we are taking about those in left side political parties ). Shooters in particular should be wary with their agenda on this as well:-

The Republic issue not about national independence but about centralizing and consolidating power in the hands of party politicans that have been abusing Parliamentary power since the 1920s ( particularly since 1972 when corruption became entrenched ), and making substanital changes to current constitutional arrangements.

( These are the same politicans who voted to take your guns away in 1996 and have passed draconian laws on everything from speed cameras to terrorism in recent times ).

It would also mean fiddling with the States constitutional arrangements, and in the case of some of the left leaning Republican people this means to get rid of the States altogether. It is also likely politicans would use the Republic issue to slip in a lot of other changes on their wish lists to the detriment of the public.

Overall those wanting a Republic both on the left and right side of politics want to force on the Australian public the type of Republic that suits the elites ( what they want - including an appointed President ) - not the type of Republic the average person envisages and wants ( which polls have consistently revealed is an elected President ).

For that reason those people in favour a Republic should not support one unless they are completely happy with the model proposed ( and in our view has extensive statements of rights and liberties and safeguards about abuse of power by Parliament similar to what the United States has ). Alarm bells should ring if merely a vote on the issue of a Republic proposed and no model for one accompanies it ( such an event will signal that the politicans intend imposing their model ).

When the issue of a Republic is raised people think of Federal Republic based in Canberra - however the issue of each individual State becoming Republican ( by replacing Governors with their own President or Premier ) as well presents even more problems and would require each State to approve the change and that in fact would result on half the States ( Tasmania, Queensland & Western Australia ) voters probably rejecting the idea ( per the 1999 vote ).

Any vote on a Federal Republic should require a two thirds majority of voters nationally and majority of States to pass, and a two third majority of voters for each State for a State Republic, to avoid the dissention the issue may cause with perhaps many people choosing to leave for other countries ( as in fact happened when other nations became Republics ). The worst possible outcome for any Republic vote would be for a slim majority ( eg 51% ) for one causing substantial division in the electorate. There must be substanital popular support for one if it is to be accepted and succeed.

For both the Federal and State Governments if there is to be a Republic there must be an elected President with wide powers to veto Parliament's laws when they abuse legislative & constitutional power ( as exists in the USA and most other Republics ) - this of course is not what our politicans want and it is something they fear. It is what is needed. And political parties should be banned from running candidates in such an election to ensure the people's candidate, not a party candidate, is head of state. Veto powers are THE KEY REASON FOR MOVING TO A REPUBLICAN MODEL and without this you end up with a lame duck type Republic.

One other veto power is needed - that the President may veto any law when a politican breaks an election promise or raises taxes and charges or passes any other laws that were not announced clearly at election time. This would be the best possible solution to keeping the whole system honest and stop the constant lying by politicans at election time.

It is also important to be aware that 100 years ago when the Federation debate took place it there were no formal political parties in Australia merely groups of independent MPs and it was not envisaged there would be. The parties have abused the system intended. It was also envisaged that the Federal Parliament would respect the rights of the States and the it would be limited to defined things ( like defence, quarantine etc... ) rather than medalling in every aspect of powers reserved for the States and abusing taxation and monetary powers that has gone on. It was intended the States would have the lions share of powers but due to judges in the High Court not respecting the wishes of the founding fathers the balance has tipped the other way. If those who were involved back then could see what has happened over the past century they would be horrified and would followed another model for a federal system or even abandoned the whole idea. Therefore extreme care needs to be taken over the Republic issue because it is a far greater step and the implications are far more complex than one realizes.

The Republic issue arose because of ego tripping by former PM Keating stemming from an institutionalized dislike of the British Empire by certain elements of the Labor Party and this foolish notion of Australia being part ASIA. It was also given impetus by the 1975 Whitlam Govt. sacking. So the motivation for this debate starting is largely from prejudice, not from wanting to do the right thing by the Australian people..

Additionally the whole Republic debate is being used by politicans as a diversion to direct the public's ( particularly young peoples' ) and media's attention away from all their political failings. It is an enormous red herring that both left and right will keep peddling as long as it serves that end.

The bottom line is that Australia's politicans wont give us the type of Republic the public wants - with an elected President and safeguards -therefore a no vote to their model is the only possible response.

Currently, given the inadequate models proposed by politicans, there is no valid reason for a change to a Republic and the nonsense often cited about getting rid of the Queen and having an Australian as head of state is a trivial excuse and detracts from the servere division this could create with perhaps some States or groups of citizens choosing to suscede. The current Governor General is an Australian, and that aside, having someone not technically an Australian resident - the Queen - as head of state is in fact an advantage because she would not take sides in any political dispute and would be more impartial.

Overall it is no use moving to a Republican model where there are no real changes. The Royals are decent respectable people with a strong affection for Australia and there is no reason to wander into the Republican wilderness and replace them with an unknown.



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