An alternative republic proposal
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Open Access
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ArticleAuthor/s
Twomey, AnneAbstract
The recent revival of discussion of an Australian republic has not yet addressed the fundamental contradictions at the core of the debate, which stymied success in 1999 and which will continue to divide republicans unless resolved. They are that on the one hand, the people want to ...
See moreThe recent revival of discussion of an Australian republic has not yet addressed the fundamental contradictions at the core of the debate, which stymied success in 1999 and which will continue to divide republicans unless resolved. They are that on the one hand, the people want to directly elect their head of state, but on the other hand they do not want to create political instability or end up with a head of state who is a politician or celebrity. Those who oppose direct election of the head of state express legitimate concerns that it will lead to political conflict between the Prime Minister and a head of state who has a direct mandate from the people. They also note that an election will inevitably give rise to a politician as head of state, with political parties funding and supporting candidates. The well-respected people who have in the past accepted the offices of Governor-General or Governor, such as Sir William Deane and Dame Marie Bashir, would be most unlikely to ever nominate for a direct election.
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See moreThe recent revival of discussion of an Australian republic has not yet addressed the fundamental contradictions at the core of the debate, which stymied success in 1999 and which will continue to divide republicans unless resolved. They are that on the one hand, the people want to directly elect their head of state, but on the other hand they do not want to create political instability or end up with a head of state who is a politician or celebrity. Those who oppose direct election of the head of state express legitimate concerns that it will lead to political conflict between the Prime Minister and a head of state who has a direct mandate from the people. They also note that an election will inevitably give rise to a politician as head of state, with political parties funding and supporting candidates. The well-respected people who have in the past accepted the offices of Governor-General or Governor, such as Sir William Deane and Dame Marie Bashir, would be most unlikely to ever nominate for a direct election.
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Date
2015Source title
Australian Law JournalVolume
89Issue
9Publisher
Thomson ReutersLicence
Copyright All Rights ReservedRights statement
This article was published by Thomson Reuters and should be cited as: Twomey, A. (2015). An alternative republic proposal. Australian Law Journal, 89(9), 616–618. For all subscription inquiries please phone, from Australia: 1300 304 195, from Overseas: +61 2 8587 7980 or online at legal.thomsonreuters.com.au/search. The official PDF version of this article can also be purchased separately from Thomson Reuters at http://sites.thomsonreuters.com.au/journals/subscribe-or-purchase. This publication is copyright. Other than for the purposes of and subject to the conditions prescribed under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part of it may in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written permission. Enquiries should be addressed to Thomson Reuters (Professional) Australia Limited. PO Box 3502, Rozelle NSW 2039. legal.thomsonreuters.com.auFaculty/School
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