What will change if Australia is to become a republic?
We will have a President instead of the Queen and the Governor-General, but there will be no material benefit whatsoever. Indeed, quite the reverse as no republican has put forward any sensible reason why there should be constitutional change. Some say we must become a republic to enhance trade in Asia, but common sense dictates that in trade only three things really count : quality, availability and price. In Australia, we have what is called an “Absent Monarchy’ which means that the Queen does not reside in Australia, but then we do not pay for her upkeep or day to day security. However, were we to have a President in place of the Queen and the Governor-General, the salary, staffing, housing, travel, security and associated costs are estimated to be at least ten to twenty times higher. If the President were to be elected by the Parliament, the foremost consideration is whether the political party in power would unduly influence him or her. If the President were to be elected by the p
