roaringmouse

Some costs involved could be:

• Currency - all coins currently have Queen's head, so does $5 note
• Changes in Governor's office for each state, as the Governors represent the Queen for their state
• Costs involved in altering the constitution - not only the federal one, but probably also each state
• Cost of running the actual referendum (even if at same time as an election, it would still cost extra)
• Cost of running any plebiscites, as currently the republican people want to run 2 or 3 of these to determine what they actually want
• Stationery
• Potential change of national flag
• Potential change of state flags
• There would probably be a push for the President to be more visible than the Governor-General is, so extra costs involved with this potentially including more overseas trips, and receiving more state visits to show off their shiny new President

It's odd - in the UK, I'm very much a supporter of the UK becoming a republic. In Australia, I sit on the fence about Australia becoming a republic (mainly because I've seen enough Australian politics to know there are some potentially big dangers involved in what the office of President might become).

Zen10

I float on the issue as far as the UK goes. I know Australia will become a republic, and so does the Windsor family, which is why they always send their newborn kings-to-be here first. I don't know.

brissybee

I think death of Elizabeth will prompt big push for referendum. Sadly.

I'm not up on all the pros and cons but quite like Charles being a bit alternate. Why shouldn't he be King?

OzTennis

As you said odd. You are against the monarchy in the country they reign over but you are for it in a country which largely went its own way in 1901 and latterly has become less Anglo? That's like being against Islam in the Middle East (except Israel) but in favour of it in the UK.

The Royalists who distrust the young nation going it's own way are like parents who don't want their children to fly the nest.

OzTennis

When/if it comes a possible flag has been mooted:

Zen10

No, no, you're mistaken. This is the flag of the Ludicrous Banana Republic of Australia.

roaringmouse

I did not say that I was for the monarchy in Australia at all. I said that I was on the fence about it, and gave a reason for that - I would put myself in neither the monarchy support camp, or the republic support camp as far as Australia is concerned.

roaringmouse

With costs of changing constitutions, you need to remember the legal costs, and the time put in by constitutional lawyers. It would not be cheap to the public purse when those people could be doing other things instead.

You may consider it unnecessary for the new President to be shown off, but the politicians who supported a republic would be very keen - especially within the Asia-Pacific area of the world.

lapin_windstar

"It's odd - in the UK, I'm very much a supporter of the UK becoming a republic. In Australia, I sit on the fence about Australia becoming a republic (mainly because I've seen enough Australian politics to know there are some potentially big dangers involved in what the office of President might become"

I don't know why you think Aussie politicians are any more or less capable or upstanding than UK ones - have you read the Rotten Boroughs pages of Private Eye recently?

roaringmouse

I made no comparison of politicians between the two countries and nor did I specifically mention politicians.

ABCD......

Malcolm Turnbull and his accountants will have the answer to that...

That reminds me of my days working for those accountants...

Long Live the Queen, and keep Australia's costs down

OzTennis

Similar thing - against in UK, on the fence in Oz.

Bikergirl

Still wondering what the benefits are to becoming a republic? So far ive hearx no arguement for becoming a republic which would indicate that there are no real benefits just lots of cost. Is it really worth it then?

chris955

There are no benefits that I can see, only costs. I think this is why polls are showing less and less desire for a republic, if it aint broke dont fix it and dont spend money you havent got.

Zen10

The benefits are that currently no Australian can ever become head of state of their own country, but that in a republic they will be able to do so. This is about self-determination as a people in the 21st Century. At the moment, a private family of Germans control Australia. Recent demonstrations include the dismissal of 1975 when they removed a sitting PM from power and more recently in 2011 when they suspended free speech in Australia by unilaterally banning a satirical publicly-funded TV programme from airing during the wedding of William Windsor and Kate Middleton. The Windsor family are also able to ban any law made by the Australian people as long as they act within one year of its passing. Some Australians do not like being treated like this, and want their children to be eligible for head of state one day. This way the head of state is actually accountable to a voting public.

Besides, both Australia and Britain will become republics at some point; there is no doubt of that at all. Australia probably within 20 years, and Britain more likely before the end of the century. It is the natural political evolution of the state. I have nothing against the Windsors personally. I've met a senior member of the family and my mother has met one (other) senior royal several times in the course of her work. Our experience is that they are polite and professional. Becoming a republic would free these people from a life of public scrutiny they never asked for.