For a popularly-elected, non-executive, apolitical Australian Head of State
The Honorary President would be a directly-elected, non-executive, apolitical and Australian Head of State. They would be an ambassador for Australian goodwill, our national representative above politics and independent of the Prime Minister.
Many will say this is impossible, however under this model the Governors and Governor-General would still be there as constitutional umpires, impartial yet able to exercise reserve powers.
From the 2004 Senate Inquiry into an Australian Republic Discussion paper:
One of the most critical and complex issues is the method for selecting the head of state. One view is that direct election of a head of state would give the people a say in who would represent them as head of state.
The following points and questions about the term of office, removal and casual vacancy of a republican Head of State are taken from the 2004 Senate Inquiry into an Australian Republic Discussion paper:
From the 2004 Senate Inquiry into an Australian Republic Discussion paper:
The term President seemed to gain wide usage during the debates surrounding the 1999 referendum and is used very widely around the world, but suggests a major departure from the existing system of government. What should the Head of State be called? Governor-General, President of the Commonwealth of Australia, or some other title?
From the 2004 Senate Inquiry into an Australian Republic Discussion paper:
Since a referendum is required to change the Constitution, one option is to simply move to a referendum (as has usually been the case with earlier attempts to amend the Constitution). Most republic models have suggested a plebiscite (that is, a non-binding indicative national vote) prior to the referendum, to test the Australian people’s preparedness to accept the idea of a republic (by a simple “yes/no” vote).
Welcome to the Copernican Forum. This blog was started by Robert Vose, a Copernican Republican, in February 2006 in the hope that this will in time become a group blog, if there is enough public interest in the topic. Failing that, I will be posting here on issues relevant mainly to the Australian republic. My personal blog is at http://www.7gs.com/pharoz and it includes a category for republican posts.
Memo to monarchists – drop the bogus arguments against a republic Read the rest of this entry »
by John Warhurst
