IT IS time for an Australian republic.
Every year when we celebrate Australia Day the need for our nation to fix its identity under its own banner becomes more pronounced.
Our symbols of nationhood still carry the hallmarks of our colonial past; our flag is an extension of the Union Jack, the day we celebrate our nation is the anniversary of colonisation and the Australian Constitution remains a schedule of an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament.
Even though some would disagree, there is much in this heritage for which we should be proud.
It is from this heritage we have secured our civil, political, economic and religious freedoms.
Since we voted against a republic in 1999, the arguments for and against have remained much the same, and there has been little new momentum for change.
This may be because those who support an Australian republic still disagree on the model.
An Australian head of state appointed by a two-thirds majority of parliament and not elected by the people in some respects seems second best to a president elected by the people.
But many argue a popularly elected president would change our democracy in unpredictable ways.
Nevertheless, agreement on a republican model must be sought and found.
A new referendum on a republic would also be an opportunity to constitutionally recognise Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
January 26, rather than just marking the date of British colonisation, could also be a celebration of the day the entire nation – including Australia’s first peoples – chose to plant its own flag in the soil.
Then we would have an Australia Day of which we could be unequivocally proud.
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