our flag - as it will STILL be after we vote 'yes'republic oz

an australian republic - faq

These questions relate largely to the republic model proposed in november 1999 but are also relevant to the post-referendum republic debate

- don't we already have an aussie head of state in the g-g?

- will our flag be changed?

- i want to elect my president - why didn't i have that option?

- will australia still be a member of the commonwealth?

- won't it cost a fortune to change letter-heads and mint new coins once we become a republic?

- what concrete benefits will we get from becoming a republic?


  • will our flag be changed?
    NO - voting 'yes' to a republic would not change the flag by default. any change to our flag would require an act of parliament and a national plebiscite so that the flag could only change if the australian people voted for that to occur.

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  • i want to elect my president - why didn't i have that option?
    the republic that was being offered at the november 1999 referendum was pretty much the model devised at the constitutional convention of 1998. it offered a president nominated by the public, short-listed by a committee, selected by the prime minister, seconded by the leader of the opposition and approved by two thirds of a joint sitting of the federal parliament. that president would have had precisely the same powers as the current governor-general.

    if the president were to be directly elected with the same powers it would alter the balance of power. a president with a mandate of the majority of australians could be a threat to the prime minister and our system of government.

    also, direct election would virtually ensure that a politician or millionaire would be elected.. who else could afford a nation-wide campaign?

    direct election is not inherently bad.. but it needs more changes to our system of government than the proposed model. those who support that method of election will need to build and agree on a complete model and have that presented to the australian people at a future referendum

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  • will australia still be a member of the commonwealth?

    yes - over half of the countries already in the commonwealth are republics. we will also continue to participate in the commonwealth games

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  • won't it cost a fortune to change letter-heads and mint new coins once we become a republic?

    no - we will still be called 'the commonwealth of australia' and our coat of arms will not change. no government departments will change their name as a result of this change to a republic

    the image of the queen on our coins will be replaced gradually as new coins are minted as would happen when charlie replaced her if we stayed with the monarchy


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  • what concrete benefits will we get from becoming a republic?

    the removal of the british monarchy from our constitution is largely a symbolic change (we all recognise that the queen no longer exercises most of the powers given her by the constitution). it's a change to our spirit.

    but, having said that, it will have a positive effect on our self-perception and, as a result, the way the rest of the world perceives us. it's a bit like getting a hair-cut before a job interview, our self-image is improved as is the way we are seen by others. this update to our self-image will follow our celebration of 100 years of federation and the start of a new millennium. we will be telling the world that we are now a mature nation which, while recognising its past as a colony of britain, is now completely independent. that has to have a positive effect on our dealings, trade included, with the rest of the world.


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