CQUniversity Essay: Australia Should Become a Republic (MGMT20135)

This essay, prepared for CQUniversity's MGMT20135 course, delves into the ongoing debate surrounding Australia's potential transition to a republic. It examines the arguments both for and against such a change, exploring the implications of shifting from a constitutional monarchy to a republican form of government. The essay discusses key issues such as the nationality of the head of state, national identity, sovereignty, and the potential impact on legal and political affairs. It analyzes the advantages of a republic, including increased national unity and freedom, while also addressing concerns about potential costs, risks, and public opinion. The paper also includes a detailed discussion of the impact on the Commonwealth Games. The essay supports its claims with references to academic sources, providing a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted debate.

Running head: AUSTRALIA SHOULD BECOME A REPUBLIC
AUSTRALIA SHOULD BECOME A REPUBLIC
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1AUSTRALIA SHOULD BECOME A REPUBLIC
The Australian society has been facing issues in the governmental systems that are
presented within the given territorial boundaries. The country has been facing a great amount of
demand in terms of the changes of the governmental systems from the systems of the
constitutional monarchy to the republican nature of politics within the country. The following
essay discusses the development of the issues that might arise due to the development of the
governmental conditions within the country. The following essay attempts a discussion on the
advantages that are presented in the development of political system within the country of
Australia.
The country in discussion, Australia has been facing debates on the change in the
political scenario of the country from the monarchy that is practiced in the country to the
incorporation of the republic nature of the political affairs that are presented within the country.
Williams (2018) argue that the debates on turning the country into a republic has been found to
be presented at the onset of the celebrations of the Australia Day. The debates that have been
taking place within the country tend to be turning on the support of the need for the changes that
are required for the proper development of the republic nature of the concerned country.
Mansillo (2016) opine that the major issues that are highlighted for the development of the
concerned country refer to the discussion on the nationality of the Head of the State. The
majority of the opinions that are maintained by the people refer to the demand that the Australian
state of head should belong to the Australian nationality and be an active member of the
Australian society as well. Bladen (2016) state that the head of the Australian state in the present
days is the queen of England who is represented by the governor general within the Australian
territories. This, according to Strauss (2016) might help in the avoidance of the political conflicts
that are presented due to the conflicts of interest that might arise due to the non-native nationality

2AUSTRALIA SHOULD BECOME A REPUBLIC
of the head of the state. The other issues that might be faced by the country refer to the
perpetuation of the idea that the heritage of some people ensure their betterment over the other
individuals. This leads to the non-establishment of the equality and the fraternity within the
country. Goss (2017) opine that the monarchy that is practiced within the country of Australia
should thus, be stunted in order to attain the establishment of the equality within the country.
Salvaris (2018) opine that the Australian frontiers are found to be governed by the British
government and the head of the state of Australia is the Queen of England. This leads to the
conditions wherein the national identity of the country of Australia is majorly set on the lines of
the English interpretation of the same. Warhurst (2015) argue that the implementation of the
republic nature of the political state within the country helps in the development of the proper
national identity of the country as is observed by the native members of the country. This would
promote the sovereignty within the country as well as promote the unity within the country.
Kirby (2016) state that the implementation of the republic nature of the state would further help
the Australian territory to gain the freedom in terms of the legal and the political affairs of the
country. The Australian religious freedom does not allow the monarchs to belong to the Catholic
individuals. The head of the Australian state in the present days is the queen of England who is
represented by the governor general within the Australian territories. Stephenson (2015) opine
that the monarch of England is known to have been belonging to the Catholic school of thought.
This is in conflict with the rules of the Australian lands. The attainment of the republic nature of
the political affair within the country would thus lead to the passage of the leadership of the
country to the Australian residents which would help in the development of the political
conditions within the country.

3AUSTRALIA SHOULD BECOME A REPUBLIC
On the other hand, however, there are people who have been rooting for the presence of
the constitutional monarchy within the country. These people tend to state that the country would
have to encounter a huge expenditure in order to deal with the political system that needs to be
changed. Qvortrup, Morris and Kobori (2018) argue that these people tend to opine that the
changes in the political system might require a huge number of changes thereby leading to the
great expenditure on the part of the country. The concerned section of the society further
discusses the risks that are involved within the processes of the designing and the planning of a
new political setup within the country. Mansillo (2018) opine that this section of the society
claims the fact that the risks that are involved in the process might be higher than expected and
might lead to the unexpected conditions within the political scenario of the country. A certain
section of the country further opine that the Australians tend to prefer the monarchical rules
within the country and thus would not prefer the changes in the head of the state. Veri (2016)
state that the concerned section of the Australian population is known to prefer the monarchy of
the Queen of England who is represented by the governor general active within the Australian
territories. The other major obstruction that is faced by the advocates of the change in the
political systems tend to opine that the change in the political system might render the country
incapable of hosting or competing in the Commonwealth Games.
The above discussion might be concluded with the opinion that despite the issues that are
faced by the country residents, the country should implement the change in the political systems
of the country. The majority of the opinions that are maintained by the people refer to the
demand that the Australian state of head should belong to the Australian nationality and be an
active member of the Australian society. This would promote the sovereignty within the country
as well as promote the unity within the country. The implementation of the republic nature of the

4AUSTRALIA SHOULD BECOME A REPUBLIC
state would further help the Australian territory to gain the freedom in terms of the legal and the
political activities of the country.

5AUSTRALIA SHOULD BECOME A REPUBLIC
References
Bladen, V. (2016). John Bell, Shakespeare and the Quest for a New Australian Theatre by
Adrian Kiernander. Shakespeare Bulletin, 34(3), 547-550.
Goss, R. (2017). Referenda: The Australian Experience. The Round Table, 106(5), 585-587.
Kirby, M. (2016). The Centenary of Sir Harry Gibbs: Constitutional Methodology, Lawmaking
& the Marriage Plebiscite. U. Queensland LJ, 35, 283.
Mansillo, L. (2016). Loyal to the Crown: shifting public opinion towards the monarchy in
Australia. Australian Journal of Political Science, 51(2), 213-235.
Mansillo, L. (2018). Trends in Australian attitudes to the monarchy. Australian Social Attitudes
IV: The Age of Insecurity, 171.
Qvortrup, M., Morris, C., & Kobori, M. (2018). Australasia. In Referendums Around the
World (pp. 237-262). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Salvaris, M. (2018). Citizenship and Constitutional Reform: A just republic-or just a
republic?. Ethos, 26(4), 24.
Stephenson, S. (2015). When Constitutional Conventions Fail. Dublin ULJ, 38, 447.
Strauss, J. (2016). Is a debate on the republic necessary?. Green Left Weekly, (1083), 10.
Veri, F. (2016). Minimalist Citizenship and National Identity in the Australian Republican
Movement. Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism, 16(1), 3-19.
Warhurst, J. (2015). Why does Australia need to be a republic?. Meanjin, 74(3), 189.

6AUSTRALIA SHOULD BECOME A REPUBLIC
Williams, D. V. (2018). From Loyal Dominion to New Republic: Which Realm Will Get There
First?. The Round Table, 107(4), 507-522.