I don't care if we become a Republic or not! Not in the short term anyway. We have a pretty good working system now, that could use improving for sure, but none of the suggestions that the government or respective oppositions have put forward suggest a better or even equal system.

And sorry I need a better excuse than the old BOOHOO I don't wanna belong to England anymore. The 'we're not part of England' is just a sook argument and needs to grow up.

Right or wrong, the predominant linage, and historical continuity of the people and culture of this country is British. Resent it if you need to, but denying it is simply childish. It's the sort of argument that we used as teenagers. Extensive reading of history helped me realize the obvious. Australia and Australians did not errupt into existance with no ties to anyone else. I know there are many ties to many other countries, but I am talking about the predominate influence on our Executive, Legal and cultural systems.

I find it akin to the lets get rid of the Union Jack from our flag. If thats what the majority eventually want then so be it. But I think we have a distinctive flag (OK NZ flag is close) that my father, uncles, grandfathers fought under. Some died under. So I would be reluctant to see it go.

Replacing the system we have simply to be rid of the 'holding on to apron strings' just doesn't wash. I think of myself as 4th gen Australian and have just welcomed my son as 5th generation. Our heratige is Welsh and Scottish, and whatever foriegners raped our grandmothers amonst the tit-for-tat european wars of the last 2000 years. I'm sure there is the blood of roman soldiers and moor brides running in our veins. And I'm glad of it.

BTW if there is ever a kangaroo placed on our flag. I'm going to Canada.

It is phrased slightly differently, which is a start I guess.

How about this:

And sorry I need a better excuse than the old BOOHOO I don't wanna have a Brit as HOS anymore. The 'we're not ruled by a Brit' is just a sook argument and needs to grow up.

It has nothing at all to do with insecurity. In fact, it stems from a quiet security. We feel so secure that we focus more on what actually works rather than ignorant nationalism. If we were insecure, we would dump the Queen in a flash and make sure everything was Australian, regardless of how well it worked. All the responses here attest to that. No-one is covering up some kind of embarrasment at being Australian.

You can aspire to whatever you want.

You can aspire to that too if you want.

I think this is what the BOOHOO bit was about.

Helian, Interesting that you think that it is being suggested the having an Australian as Head of State is being treated as 'Insignificant'. I made no such suggestion. But I will state quite clearly that it is not at the top of my own criteria of priorities. There are greater issues at stake. I can't really add to what freediver has offered in reply. They could have been my own words.

When we get a Republic AFTER we get the details right, then I will say long live the Republic.

I might add that it is one of the great sidelining items that gets put before parliment and the public. A great means of directing interest away from more important or controversial subjects. It will be interesting to see the timing of the Rudd government 's reintroduction of the republic to national debate.

When it happens, that's the best time for the electorate to have  peripheral vision.