Minimalism not an option

The unhelpful debate of (British) Monarchy versus an Australian Minimalist Republic flares up again when a young royal visits the antipodes.

With minimalism no longer an option, how well prepared are Australians to engage in a far ranging constitutional debate?

Isn't that the real issue?

The primary case for Australia is very clear: a constitutional Republic with a directly-elected, symbolic President, now favoured by over 80 per cent of the citizens.

Considering more comprehensive constitutional change, Australians should be looking at modern republics to see how they operate, e.g. Ireland, Finland, Portugal, France, Austria, Iceland, Indonesia and Poland (direct election); and Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Germany, Malta, Czech Republic, South Africa and Hungary (indirect election).

Could the Rudd Government, as an essential part of the education revolution, commence producing and circulating materials enlightening the public about the options?

Australia needs to be much better prepared for the next plebiscite(s) or referendum than it was in 1999.

Email, 20 Jan 2010 Klaas Woldring, Pearl Beach