freediver
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Republic-would-upset-balance-of-power/2007/08/25/1187462569567.html
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson says turning Australia into a republic would shake up the nation's "fundamental balance of power" which had created one of the world's most stable countries.
Dr Nelson spoke at the opening of the Australians for Constitutional Monarchy annual conference in Sydney on Saturday, where he described himself as "not a royalist but I am a monarchist".
"We enjoy a stability which is the envy of many people throughout the rest of the world," Dr Nelson told the 60-strong crowd.
"The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom are amongst the most stable and tolerant nations throughout the world and they are, of course, constitutional monarchies."
Dr Nelson said much of the support for Australia to become a republic appeared to come from people who wanted "change for its own sake".
The shift would see the nation leave behind a system which had given Australia great stability, not through power wielded by the Queen or her Australian representative the Governor General.
"But instead it is the power they deny others," Dr Nelson said.
"If you transferred that across to a person who may be elected in some form or another, either by the public or a majority of the parliament, then the fundamental balance of power in our country will change.
"People will expect, quite understandably, a person who is the president perhaps under a republic to exercise power in the name of what is popular."
Qld to do audit of state-fed relations
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Qld-to-do-audit-of-statefed-relations/2007/09/04/1188783207706.html
The Queensland government will audit its agreements with the federal government, leading up to a constitutional convention in 2009.
Premier Peter Beattie announced the move in state parliament.
He said the audit would examine cross-border arrangements and identify inefficiencies.
A public awareness campaign would inform a debate on federalism, and a discussion paper would be commissioned.
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