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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Australian opposition party elects republican leader

World Sep. 16, 2008 - 03:45PM JST ( 17 )

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17 Comments

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cow76Sep. 16, 2008 - 07:53PM JST

Being a Republican is not going to damage his standing and may not even be relevant at all. Unless there's a referendum called, it's not really important where he stands on that issue.

He's maybe slightly better than Brendan Nelson but the fact that he's one of Australia's richest men will damage his credibility. If there's one thing Aussie's hate it's a tall poppy.
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romulus3Sep. 16, 2008 - 08:24PM JST

Aussie will eventually do it and NZ after although NZ has been at the forefront of many things like womens right to vote etc. Maybe NZ will get in there first but it is time to end this Queen business for them. The only benefit is to a once Great Britain. There is no benefit for the ordinary citizens of NZ and Aus anymore. Time to shelve it.
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SezWho2Sep. 17, 2008 - 05:21PM JST

Her majesty's a pretty nice girl

But she doesn't have a lot to say.

On the other hand, what she has to say, she says very well. Australia could do worse than to retain a symbol of civility.
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cleoSep. 17, 2008 - 05:30PM JST

Australia could do worse than to retain a symbol of civility.

You don't need a crown on your head to be civil. It would be nice if the Aussies could dump the monarchy in a genteel, civil way. Then maybe the UK could follow suit and Charlie & the rest of them could go on the dole.
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AlfGarnettSep. 17, 2008 - 05:37PM JST

cleo; Dump her majesty? That woman has served her country and the commonwealth with dignity and in an honourable manner. Charles may not be as good as his mummy, i'll grant you that, but he was born to be king, and that includes YOU Aussies.

The Australians voted to keep her majesty as head of state, and thar should be the end of the matter.

Where's the respect these days? That woman has been a great ambassedor for Britain, and she has served well.
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cleoSep. 17, 2008 - 06:54PM JST

Alf, I'm not an Aussie.

The monarchy and her majesty are not the same. Lizzie may be a very nice, genteel old lady, but she's clocked up the years and deserves a bit of time to enjoy her pension and go walkies with the corgis.

It might tickle you (or maybe not) to know that according to a telly programme Tony Robinson did a while back, the British royal line got derailed in the 14th century, when Richard Plantagenet's missus had a fling with an archer and the resulting illegitimate babby later became Edward IV. The BBC traced the line through his brother George who should by rights have been king, and came to the conclusion that the true King of England is an Aussie called Mike Hastings - who is a staunch republican.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/aussie-mike-the-true-king-of-england/2005/09/10/1125772732666.html
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AlfGarnettSep. 17, 2008 - 07:06PM JST

cleo; what i mean madam, is that as a head of state her majesty　helps prevent dictatorships and such like. look at the Americans , they done away with the Royal family and they are causing wars all over the shop.

Them Aussies like the Royal Family more these days than previously. Anyway, the Royals aint harming or killing anyone, except young Harry maybe, fighting for his gran against the Taliban swines, until the Labour party newspaper told the world where he was.
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cleoSep. 17, 2008 - 08:22PM JST

look at the Americans

You mean the ones who didn't do it in a genteel, civil way? Gotcha.

they are causing wars all over the shop

...and her majesty's former PMs Tony Blair and John Howard were right up there eagerly helping them..... Sorry, having a monarchy didn't stop us invading Iraq. And having young Harry on the front line (well, maybe not the front...) is hardly a good advert for a peace-loving crown, is it? Not that I imagine for a moment that he was 'fighting for his gran'.
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cleoSep. 17, 2008 - 08:44PM JST

The Queen stops a baddun like Adolf from taking over

I'm not much into war films, but I never yet heard of one where Lizzie defeated or even fought against Adolf. Before her time, I think.

she can refuse to accept the winner if they cheated like Dumbo Bush done in 2000

Then why the h3ll didn't she??? Instead she let him come and have dinner at Buck House and he let his goons rip up her hundreds-of years-old gardens with their helicopters.

Stronger ties with the Commonwealth, I'm all for that. But I don't see that we need an old lady to unite us. Or anyone who's there because of who their Mum or Dad married.

We could have an election for head of state, like other places do. No reason Charlie (or even Lizzie) shouldn't run for it.
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SezWho2Sep. 17, 2008 - 09:58PM JST

cleo,

It's true that you don't need a crown on your head to be civil. But if you have a crown at the head it might raise the general level of civility. Obviously there are no guarantees.
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ThenewfrontSep. 17, 2008 - 11:40PM JST

Better than an imperial family totally cut off from the world and controlled by old fogeys.

At least The British royals make some attempt at working with regular people, and can go to nightclubs and bars without permission.

It is a symbol of democracy, something Aussies sghould hold onto as a part of their history.
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cleoSep. 18, 2008 - 02:24AM JST

Royalty is a symbol of democracy.

Now there's a non-sequitur.....
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SezWho2Sep. 18, 2008 - 01:59PM JST

Well, I don't think all royalty is a symbol of democracy. And I would agree that it sounds strange. But I think democracy in England formed around the royalty of England, so in that sense I can see some truth to the claim for Commonwealth countries it is a symbol of democracy. If you look where England has been, it certainly has tended to leave democracies in its wake.