Australia is a proud nation with a rich history. However, the country has not yet become a republic. This is despite the fact that Australia was once part of the British Empire and remains deeply connected to Great Britain through its language and culture. A republic is more than just changing how we refer to our head of state; it’s about asserting sovereignty over our political systems and institutions. The following reasons explain why Australia should embrace republicanism:
Also see: Making Australia A Republic May Not Be What You Imagined
10 Reasons Why Australian Should Become a Republic
The following are some of the main reasons why Australia should become republic;
Monarchy Is Outdated
Monarchy is outdated. The idea of a hereditary head of state has been around since the beginning of Western civilization, and it was only in the last few hundred years that it became common practice to have a king or queen who would rule over their country as long as they lived. But while monarchies were an effective way of organizing countries in ancient times, they’re not particularly useful today. In fact, many people believe that monarchy is a relic from an earlier age—partly due to its association with British imperialism and colonialism. Monarchy is a symbol of the past, not the future; it doesn’t reflect Australia’s values or identity in any meaningful way at all.
Republicanism Should Be a Matter of Australian Values
As you can see, there are many reasons why Australia should become a republic. However, the most important reason is that it is a matter of Australian values. We are currently ruled by the Queen and her representatives. But what if we want to make our own choices? What if we want to choose our own head of state? What if we want to choose our own values? What if we want to choose our own laws, or even future? The answer is simple: let us vote.
As a people who once had great power over their country’s direction, Australians deserve their freedom back from British rule. That’s why it’s time for independence again.
The Queen Is Not an Australian
The Queen is not an Australian citizen. She is a British citizen, and she has been since birth. The Queen has never renounced her British citizenship, nor has she ever applied for Australian citizenship even though she has been our head of state since 1953. She is also not an Australian resident; in fact, the Queen spends very little time in Australia during a year less than two weeks per year. And finally, Her Majesty does not pay taxes to the Australian government or any other government for that matter; instead, her income comes from private sources as well as gifts given by foreign governments and organizations like UNESCO.
Thus, we can see that Her Majesty does not meet any of the requirements listed above which define someone as a citizen of Australia: being born here; living here permanently; paying taxes here; or swearing allegiance to our country before becoming its leader. In fact, there are many people who do meet these requirements who could become president instead.
Saving Money
You may be surprised to learn that the monarchy costs Australia millions of dollars each year. The Queen’s visits to Australia cost a lot of money, and they are not necessary or important.
Australia is paying millions each year for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting CHOGM held in Perth this week, but our “Head of State” won’t even attend the event because she doesn’t want to meet with us. If you aren’t going to show up at your own party anyway, why throw one? We don’t need another expensive party thrown by someone who doesn’t care about us anyway. It’s time for Australians to stop throwing lavish parties for someone who doesn’t care about us and instead spend that money on ourselves.
Read More: The Controversy Behind Australia Becoming A Republic
Republicanism Safeguards the Nation’s Dignity and Independence
Republicanism is an important issue because it will safeguard the nation’s dignity and independence. A republic will increase Australia’s independence, as it would allow us to make our own decisions without having to rely on Britain for approval. This would mean that we could better represent ourselves in international affairs. For example, when Sir Peter Cosgrove was appointed Governor General of Australia, he was required to meet with Queen Elizabeth II before his appointment could be made official BBC News. This shows that even though Australians are considered their own people within Great Britain’s monarchy system, they still have to ask permission from other countries before making important decisions regarding themselves.
In contrast with this situation, a republic would allow us more freedom over our leadership choices and allow us more control over our government’s actions in foreign affairs.
The Head of State Should Be Australian
You should be aware that Queen Elizabeth II is not an Australian and never has been. She is, in fact, a British citizen and resident of the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, the current head of state has no connection to Australia’s history or culture. There are no ties between her family tree and our First Peoples, who suffered greatly as a result of European colonization; there are no connections between her life experiences or beliefs and those of ordinary Australians living today many of whom have come from countries which were once part of the British Empire; nor does she share our values or aspirations for this country going forward into its future as an independent nation-state.
Australia Has the Potential to Influence World Affairs
Australia is a large country with a lot of influence and potential to influence world affairs. It is a multicultural country, which allows it to have many different perspectives when making decisions on issues.
Australia’s current system of government means that the head of state Queen Elizabeth II lives in another country England. This causes problems because she has no obligation to Australia, especially when it comes to representing their interests at an international level.
A Republic Would Streamline Government
The current system is a relic of the past, not fit for purpose. It is not modern, efficient or effective. It is not relevant to contemporary Australia and it does not provide a fair way to elect our head of state.
A republic would streamline government by removing the monarchy from our constitution and allowing us to directly elect our own Head of State through an Australian Head of State Referendum.
Conclusion
There is a lot of opposition to the proposal, but there are also many benefits. One thing is sure: Australia should discuss its future as a republic.
Must Read: Guide To The Proposed Australian Republic – History and Facts
