On Sun, 14 Sep 2014 09:21:36 +1000, JohnJohn >
wrote:

>On Sat, 13 Sep 2014 15:30:11 -0600, Mayo > wrote:
>
>>>> I believe you've still a monarchical Governor General to answer to.
>>>
>>> As long as Australia doesn't cut the umbilical cord, it's still some
>>> sort of colony. I don't know what's stopping them. I guess people are
>>> afraid of change. Especially older people.
>>
>>That is almost universally true.
>>
>>I'd need a careful explanation of precisely what the Crown offers your
>>average Australian in terms of tangible benefits.
>
>I can't think of much. I think Australians with an English background
>- the majority - like to keep a connection with the old motherland.
>Other than that, I wouldn't know. It's not like the UK's holding a gun
>to their head either.
>
>It could just be a matter of waiting for the next referendum. In 1999,
>it was 54-45 in favour of keeping the link.

The other thing to remember is that it has no real effect or impact on
our day to day lives, which might have been a factor in many people
being ambivalent about the matter.

The only significant impact it has had - and it's a big one - was that
the Governor General (Queen's representative) was used to dismiss our
PM back in 1975. Otherwise, I can't think of anything else really.

Oh... we get to spend lots of taxpayer money when royals visit... I
guess that's something.

.... and crappy women's magazines get to have endless royals stories to
publish...