Not so long ago, the official line was that we could consider republicanism when the queen died. Tony Smith argues that politicians calling for Independent Senator Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe to be sanctioned for dishonesty invite ridicule.
Australian Republican Movement
Leading Socialist Alliance member Peter Boyle joins the Green Left Show to discuss the manufactured outpouring of pro-monarchist propaganda, the push for a republic and what real democratic change would look like.
The release of the Palace letters between the governor general and the Queen have given renewed impetus for a republican movement, writes Jim McIlroy.
Do we need to debate whether Australia should become a republic?
After all, it is not just parties that say Australian society should be transformed (Socialist Alliance) or reformed (the Greens) that want a republic. The national leaders of the major capitalist political parties and all the state premiers agree on ending the situation where a British monarch is Australia's head of state.
I suspect this is in line with what most Australians think: who gave birth to you should not make you the head of state, even nominally. So why is there an argument about this?