@Angus, great thoughts but here’s my view: Australia is a colony. It needs more than a Balfour declaration to change that. All our institutions and a significant part of our psyche is conditioned by British values and traditions. That said, following this logic, becoming a republic without changnig our legal or parliamentary system will make us no less of a colony.

Also – it’s easy for King George or other Europeans living in Europe or a big city to be all warm a fuzzy. Or to walk a bridge. Put them on a frontier and then watch them turn into the same genocidal monsters others have. Sad indictment on human nature and greed but true. Let’s not glorify Europeans, living in Europe, too much.

I once was a supporter of a republic, but as a non-Anglo Australian, I now have my doubts.
My doubting line of thought begins with the idea that there’s not yet a good enough reason. People normally fight for republics, because they have a burning desire. Fortunately, no such widespread, deep rooted malaise exists here at the moment. And all this crap about the union jack not representing our cultural diversity is a lovely sentiment, which broadly speaking I agree with, but in fact, Australia is pretty darn Anglo/British in the end, regardless how much we love Thai food. We speak English, the media is Anglocentric, the arts are Anglocentric, 2nd-3rd gen migrant upkeep of original languages has not proved to be great, Australians are notoriously monolingual generally.

I think a British tradition has given us many good things, not least a (relatively) well functioning democracy and the rule of law…I think when we reckon we we really want to invent an even BETTER system, that is actually DIFFERENT, we can go for a republic. Meanwhile, if we just do the minimalist republic change, I reckon we might end up, like Australian fashion week, kinda thinking we’re a bit better than we are…and in the long run hubris gleaned from only mediocre results is never a good thing.

Having said all this, who knows, I could be swayed to vote for change, just for the thrill of it. Like trying beetroot juice for the first time. For now, I’m surprised how relatively happy I am with our progress, how uninspired I feel about what a republic will offer, and I’m actually a little concerned of all the cynical politicians (*cough* Turnbull) and big business men that could take advantage of a republic to gain more power.

I think we’ve got off track a little with the what it may mean for aboriginal reconciliation. In truth, it probably won’t mean a great deal. Though I think we can all accept your feelings on it as an indigenous Australian. Neither argument is racist.

I would say though that there are many Australians of indigenous descent that would make fine ‘presidents’ and represent us admirably on the world stage. As there are many ‘white’ Australians. That choice, in theory, will be on merit – either by a majority of the parliament (as was the model we voted on at the last referendum) or a democratic vote (as many republicans continue to push for). I don’t believe fears of having “just another local white man in a suit becoming president” are justified.

Thanks heaps for the ongoing discussion. It’s great stuff.

I have never differentiated people on their race nor the colour of their skin. We are all humans and as such we deserve equal treatment. And of course, so too, do the most recent arrivals.

I hope we will never again exclude people on the basis of their race as is suggested by the comment by Angus. Stating that anyone other than one particular race are just guests in this country is divisive and quite frankly, racist. Nazi Germany tried this idea and failed.

All divisive tactics, never succeed in the long run. As Charles Darwin once wrote: “In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed”.

The history of human existence, unfortunately, is based upon nations/tribes conquering others. Those of us, whose ancestors came from Ireland and Britain know only too well the struggles brought upon a people by a conquering nation. The trick is, it seems, is to recognise the past, but look toward the future.

Removing the final link with Britain is acknowledging our common past. The past brought pain upon the original Australians and also great misery upon the early white slaves who endured the horrors of British/English captivity.

An Australian republic will signal the start of a truly independent nation. One that must recognise common human equality. One that should pride itself upon tolerance and understanding. Despite tabloid media hype, Australia is in a great position to achieve this. Now, sooner than later is the time to remove that symbol of oppression from our flag and unite as a nation.

That’s a really lovely idea and one I’ve never heard expressed before. That, as a colony, we think of ourselves as guests of the traditional owners. Thanks so much for sharing that!

I guess you could look at it the other way round, too. That our ties to Britain are a reminder of the destruction of aboriginal people and culture at the hands of the European settlers. Is there not a line of thought that says severing those ties would be a fresh start, that finally this land would belong not to white or black but simply all Australians? Be interested in more of your thoughts…

As an indigenous Australian, it gives me great comfort to think that, even though we have a proud prosperous, independent nation, the symbol of this country’s European founding lives in a foreign country.

The last symbolic act of ownership over Australia by greedy, fat, white men is prevented by a nice old lady in London.

In other words, by keeping the Queen, Australians of non-ATSI background tacitly acknowledge that they are all guests here.

I hope a republic never comes.