Unfortunately there isn't much leadership out there, a difficult choice for a head of state.  The only ex prime minister that comes to mind is Paul Keating, he had vision but his perceived arrogance and sharp tongue let him down.  A step in the right direction would be to abolish compulsory voting so we get people voting that have informed themselves and take an interest in the issues at hand.  I certainly wouldn't want a head of state appointed by the government, as the general public agreed during John Howard's referendum on the issue.  He of course was a fierce royalist, hence the loaded question he knew how people would answer.  

I do believe democracy has run its course and doesn't exist anymore (apart from Switzerland) in the Western world.  We need to call it corporatism now, as big business and lobby groups with financial resources dictate the choice of candidates and consequent policies.  Our two party system ensures that no-one from outside has a chance to make it to upset things. What happens when it does occur we only need to look to Trump and how the political establishment did their best to get rid of him.  He had enough money, his own, which is how he got in. Eric Lee, a Chinese American said it very well:  In America "money rules politics" where  as in China "politics rule money".  And in America "the politicians change regularly yet the policies remain the same" and in China "the politicians stay the same but policies change".  Looking at the last 40 years and the incredible rise of China vs the decline of America it's time for us to look outside the box of "democracy" which has a hollow ring today.  I'm not saying to copy China, but invent a new system of government.  If we don't we are heading fast towards socialism and communism.  Our freedoms are mostly gone already looking at the censorship in place now in the biggest media outlets.  Many of us when posting on 
FB are self censoring already.  If we don't we get shut down as some of my friends have experienced.  Even Trump was shut down by Twitter.  

I believe we should stay as we are. If a change is made, the person elected must not have been a politician or be a member of a political party. The country needs someone who will be impartial. We don't want to end up like the USA with its sham of an electoral system for electing their president where the person who receives the most individual votes isn't necessarily elected. Preferential voting should not be used.

Australia can not become a republic without  a Constitution which is the supreme law  of Australia. The current Constitution needs to be re-written . Modern republics are founded on the idea that sovereignty rests with the people and therefore it needs a written  Bill of Rights  as part of the Constitution for the people by the people.

Before a house can be lived in, the foundation must be laid out, building framework erected , clad and furnished.

All the old law precedents  must be extinguished, and replaced with new laws related to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

So before rushing in with who will be the president we need to establish the type of Republic the people of Australia  want, the framework of  the new Constitution with iron clad Bill of Rights and then decide what sort of a person would be best to become president and what presidential powers that person will be entitled to. 

If a President was to be elected, one of the Major Requirements MUST BE,  An Australian who can prove their family history goes back AT LEAST three (3) generations living in Australia, proved by the Federal Electoral Roll. This is to remove any indication of overseas interference in elections or Government day to day running of the country. I know this is a harsh statement but it has to happen for security needs. "Advance Australia Fair"

A choice for me would be a person who has these qualifications -

1. Sir David Attenborough who cares for the planet, wildlife, and Marine life.

2. One similar to Billy Gates who can make money and not toss it around like confetti and expect the taxpayer to fork out to cover the lost revenue.

3. An old timer cop who knows how to talk to people and not scream out orders. Respect given is respect earned.

4. One who cares for all people, the unemployed, the old and young.

5. One who listens to the voice of the people because this lot we have are all deaf or ignorant.

6 One who is a champion for the rights of animals and those who cruelly treat them. Judges today give out flimsy fines or sentences.

7. One who demands any one who creates any form of disaster for any Australian, have the guts to send them back to their country. One who is Australians first, if you obey our rules, then you are one of us, if not, go home!

8 Finally this person must be an all rounder covering many fields, and if I find that person, I would make him or her a permanent king or queen of Australia.

I was part of an Australia wide discussion/committee group in the late 70s early 80s we were tasked with looking at our constitution to see what changes could be made to make the constitution more relevant to modern day Australia, one of the discussion points was should we introduce a Bill of Rights, the main sticking point was that to have a Bill of Rights we also needed a Bill of Responsibility, the problem with a Bill of Rights can be evidenced when you look at the USA model, our group could not come up with a system that we believed was workable and fair, I know this is not relevant to the discussion on a republic, but I mention it because some of the comments have suggested a Bill of Rights.

I am republican but looking at the mess most of the republican countries  around the world that are now in complete disaster with totally corrupted governments and war between them even with the COVID-19 virus that is affecting all of us and is used as a political weapon I am now believe that Australia is the best country in the world in this century and a change to a Republic may open the door major corruption same as many other countries that is that the ideas or beliefs that make a society fair, including: democratic decision-making, freedom of speech, equality before the law, social justice, equality, social justice and many other valuable issues could be corrupted by changing from a Monarchy to a Republic ..... NO .... WE ARE NOT READY ..... Look at USA and many other countries where people believe THEY ARE FREE ,,,,, Yeahhh for free for What ???  .... My suggestion is to wait a bit more and keep us the way we are ..... As I said I am a Republican and will support a Republic but will required so much work in changing the Constitution and creation of Bill of Rights for the people and ensure there is a mechanism to maintain and defend the Created bill of rights.

Just an note ....the United States is a republic and India is a republic, but North Korea and Cuba are also called republics ????? Think about this in this Century of progressive technology .... Where Australia need to move ?????

1 - Follow others like Sheep's Or

2- been ourselves all the way and became an independent Republic ?????

Lets think for the near future - Lets stay the way we are now - Not ready for a Republic lets wait a bit more until the world settle down after the Turmoil made by the Trump era that has almost destroy the entire world .....

This is my believe and is my right of opinion ...

The current system we have could easily be changed, if we want to call it a republic, why can't we just elect the HOS  the same way we select the Governer General, the monarchy have no real say in the politics of Australia, even in 1975 when Whitlam was sacked the result was that the people of Australia got the final say as to who was going to run the country, they clearly didn't want it to be Whitlam, no matter what your politically persuasion the people decided, what could be more democratic?

There isn't anyone that I can think of who would make an impartial, responsible and forward looking person capable of leading this country out of the mess it is in now.

How about this as OUR Bill of Rights?

UNALIENABLE RIGHTS
Unalienable Rights are the inherent, Sovereign, Natural Rights that existed before the 
creation of the State, and which, being antecedent to and above the State, can never be
taken away, diminished, altered or levied by the State, except by Due Process of Law. Nor 
can any Unalienable Rights be fundamentally removed or waived by contract, whether by non-
disclosure, which is fraud and enforceable by law, or knowingly by sufferance, which is 
contrary to the Spirit of the Law and prejudicial to Sovereignty.

The Original, Permanent, Unalienable Rights of ever man and woman, include:

1. The right to Life, Freedom, Health and the Pursuit of Happiness.
2. The Right to Contract, or not to Contract, which is Unlimited.
3. The Right to Earn a Living Income by being Compensated by Wages or a Salary in Fair 
Exchange for one's work.
4. The Right to Travel in the Ordinary Course of One's Life and Business.
5. The Right to Privacy and Confidentiality, free from Unwarranted Invasion.
6. The Right to Own, and Hold Property, lawfully without Trespass.
7. The Right to Self-Defence when threatened with Harm, Loss or Deceit.
8. The Right to Due Process of Law, with Notice and Opportunity to Defend.
9. The Right to be Presumed Innocent, suffering No Detention or Arrest, No Search or Seizure, without Reasonable Cause.
10. The Right to Remain Silent when Accused, to avoid Self-Incrimination.
11. The Right to Equality in the Eyes of the Law, and to Equal Representation.
12. The Right to Trial by Jury, being an Impartial Panel of One's Peers.
13. The Right to Appeal in Law against Conviction or Sentence, or both.
14. The Right to Expose Knowledge necessary to One's Rights and Freedoms.
15. The right to Peaceful Association, Assembly, Expression or Protest.
16. The Right to Practice Religion, and to have Beliefs, of one's own choosing.
17. The Right to Love, and to Consensual Marriage with Children, as a Family.
18. The Right to Security from Abuse, Persecution, Tyranny and War.
19. The Right to Refuse to kill under Command, by reason of Conscience.
20. The Right to Live in peace and be left alone when Law-Abiding.

Surely, the most critical failure of the People is their failure to ensure the teaching and common knowledge of their Unalienable Rights. If you do not know your Rights, you effectively have none. By the path of Ignorance, whether by Apathy or Deception, The People arrive in a State of Exploitation, Oppression and Tyranny.

How about this as OUR Bill of Rights?

UNALIENABLE RIGHTS
Unalienable Rights are the inherent, Sovereign, Natural Rights that existed before the 
creation of the State, and which, being antecedent to and above the State, can never be
taken away, diminished, altered or levied by the State, except by Due Process of Law. Nor 
can any Unalienable Rights be fundamentally removed or waived by contract, whether by non-
disclosure, which is fraud and enforceable by law, or knowingly by sufferance, which is 
contrary to the Spirit of the Law and prejudicial to Sovereignty.

The Original, Permanent, Unalienable Rights of ever man and woman, include:

1. The right to Life, Freedom, Health and the Pursuit of Happiness.
2. The Right to Contract, or not to Contract, which is Unlimited.
3. The Right to Earn a Living Income by being Compensated by Wages or a Salary in Fair 
Exchange for one's work.
4. The Right to Travel in the Ordinary Course of One's Life and Business.
5. The Right to Privacy and Confidentiality, free from Unwarranted Invasion.
6. The Right to Own, and Hold Property, lawfully without Trespass.
7. The Right to Self-Defence when threatened with Harm, Loss or Deceit.
8. The Right to Due Process of Law, with Notice and Opportunity to Defend.
9. The Right to be Presumed Innocent, suffering No Detention or Arrest, No Search or Seizure, without Reasonable Cause.
10. The Right to Remain Silent when Accused, to avoid Self-Incrimination.
11. The Right to Equality in the Eyes of the Law, and to Equal Representation.
12. The Right to Trial by Jury, being an Impartial Panel of One's Peers.
13. The Right to Appeal in Law against Conviction or Sentence, or both.
14. The Right to Expose Knowledge necessary to One's Rights and Freedoms.
15. The right to Peaceful Association, Assembly, Expression or Protest.
16. The Right to Practice Religion, and to have Beliefs, of one's own choosing.
17. The Right to Love, and to Consensual Marriage with Children, as a Family.
18. The Right to Security from Abuse, Persecution, Tyranny and War.
19. The Right to Refuse to kill under Command, by reason of Conscience.
20. The Right to Live in peace and be left alone when Law-Abiding.

Surely, the most critical failure of the People is their failure to ensure the teaching and common knowledge of their Unalienable Rights. If you do not know your Rights, you effectively have none. By the path of Ignorance, whether by Apathy or Deception, The People arrive in a State of Exploitation, Oppression and Tyranny.

It is nothing but to create another position for the politicians

We have too many tiers of them already and each tier has public servants

The cheapest option would be to invite Prince Harry to do the post and then Meaghan can be the First Lady :)

This I think is appropriate in this age of our country as each State seems to have various attitude to life and values which of late seems to be be anarchy!

With various values in life.

What do you think?