Our chattering classes will be delighted at the strategic direction for social change under the Rudd Labor government. The first phase of their agenda is to send us on a guilt trip for ‘invading’ the country in 1770. This will be followed by a surreptitious campaign to change our Australian flag as they move towards their ultimate objective of establishing an Australian republic.
The cost of such radical change will not be born by the chattering classes who already have established wealth or enjoy the benefits of a taxpayer funded existence.
Important questions for a change to a Republic include what form of government will we end up with? What benefits will it deliver? What will be the cost?
We currently have a Head of State appointed by our Prime Minister. We have Federal, State and Local Governments democratically elected by the people. We have a separation of power between the government and the judiciary. And most importantly we have our own high court of appeal.
We are independent and we are free – ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi’!
Australians have already rejected the ‘minimalist’ model of simply changing our Governor General with a President in the most recent referendum.
The new debate will therefore be about more radical change to our current system. This will involve the direct election of a President. While this may seem popular at first glance the impact of such change will be a financial bonanza for our legal profession. Constitutional amendments will have to be drafted and ratified by referenda and parliamentary debate. Forests will be wiped out as the media try to keep us ‘informed’. Every piece of legislation will be subject to legal interpretation in our courts.
Whilst the debate will be fodder for the chattering classes it will do absolutely nothing for the majority of working Australians who will be more concerned with there ability to earn a living, educate their kids, and pay their mortgage.
Nobody will mention what the cost will be to taxpayers because it will be impossible to calculate. Suffice to say it will be tens of billions, yes billions, of our hard-earned dollars.
The big question is will we feel better in the morning after we say sorry for something we didn’t do, trashed the flag our diggers fought under, and dumped a system of government that has delivered freedom, peace and prosperity.
I think not.
