DILLIGAF wrote on Mar 6^th, 2007 at 10:47pm:


And in the case of an ex-cop not being elected?

Or the case of an incomptetent ex-cop being elected?

Welcome to the dark side neferti 

PS why can't I add an avatar from my "collection"?

Neferti wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2008 at 8:21pm:


No, can't blame any one politician for this last major vestige of the cultural cringe and distinct national lack of self-confidence. Even the thought that we wait till QE2 dies so as to... what? Not offend her?

Anyway, if her mother is anything to go by, she might be on the job for another 20 years (somewhere round 2028)... She has always ruled out abdication, so unless a foreign Parliament forces the hand of our foreign Head of State, it might be QE2 past 2022.

freediver wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2008 at 8:44pm:


A self-confident national psyche would have a problem with the notion of a foreign Head of State. It is seen as a ridiculous anachronism to most nations in the world, particularly in Asia where it is perceived by many as a sign that Australia is not ready to stand on its own by clinging to the last link to a foreign once powerful overlord.

Freediver, you are twisting helian's words

I believe that Australia is MATURE enough to get rid of the Queen.

I vote Liberal, so I care!

freediver wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2008 at 9:31pm:


My issue is with a foreign Head of State, be that person a foreign hereditary monarch, a foreign President or any other non-Australian citizen.

I believe all Australians should have the right to aspire to be the Australian Head of State second neither in name nor in fact to a non-Australian in matters of  state.

The easiest, most obvious and least problematic would be to declare the Governor-General the unqualified Head of State (and not the anachronistic nominal penultimate) with all else being equal to the current process (i.e. the HOS appointed by the Head of Government).

I think there is a risk with the notion of an elected HOS (either by Parliament or directly by the people) with a possible potential adversary in the HOG, both of whom may claim a mandate to speak for the people.

On a lighter note, I imagine a comic scenario where in an effort to one-up the Americans in being first at everything, the Chinese President demands the role of Australian Head of State. Given that we’re OK with a foreigner in the job and like clinging to powerful nations, he reasons, why not a Chinese HOS? He would guarantee that China bought everything Australia produced and make us all stinking rich and would have a share in Chinese political, economic and military power (at least by association). We could go to war all we like alongside the Chinese just like we did with the British and Americans… Hell we could even call him His Majesty, King of Australia if it made us feel better. Of course we'd have to arc up the old cultural cringe to full strength... a bit of 'did but see him passing by' etc... After all, he reminds us,  he made us rich and significant again... just like the old days. So, God save our gracious 国 王