Australia Day Celebrations.

Post by **bignote1** » January 28, 2015, 12:48 am

Lump in your throat? Stop smoking fags then. Especially ones in boy bands.

Seriously though my mate recommends sucking on a Fisherman's Friend. How close to you are the docks?

Post by **Laan Yaa Mo** » January 28, 2015, 3:48 am

Spicy Mandarin is a good flavour of Fisherman's Friend and you can only purchase them in Thailand and Laos. They really do work, and they do cure that itchy throat in the Canadian winter.

Post by **Aardvark** » January 28, 2015, 4:23 pm

you learn something new every day ....

Post by **Earnest** » January 29, 2015, 3:24 am

Spicy mandarin you say? I'll have to buy some in February.

OK, here's a BBC link to Australia Day 2015 photos, I like the aquarium picture, pretty cool.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30978269

Post by **GT93** » January 29, 2015, 2:15 pm

I'm very impressed at the strength of the republican feelings in Oz about the Duke's knighthood. It makes me wonder how the hell the Duke's wife is still the head of state.

Post by **Nong Bua Dave** » January 29, 2015, 2:23 pm

GT93 wrote:I'm very impressed at the strength of the republican feelings in Oz about the Duke's knighthood. It makes me wonder how the hell the Duke's wife is still the head of state.

The brilliant Clarke & Dawe take on this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ECH7hIhRwg

Post by **marjamlew** » January 29, 2015, 2:27 pm

Earnest wrote:Spicy mandarin you say? I'll have to buy some in February.

OK, here's a BBC link to Australia Day 2015 photos, I like the aquarium picture, pretty cool.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30978269

Great pics Earnest. Did anyone else notice the difference in the weather between the world's most livable city and Sydney?

Post by **noosard** » January 29, 2015, 2:33 pm

GT93 wrote:I'm very impressed at the strength of the republican feelings in Oz about the Duke's knighthood. It makes me wonder how the hell the Duke's wife is still the head of state.

Easy
Referendums are difficult to get more than 50% of the vote
as lots of people are scared of what the change might bring
so the vote is leave it alone till it is good and broken
Another problem is also getting a majority of the states to agree to the change

Post by **Barney** » January 29, 2015, 2:37 pm

marjamlew wrote:
Earnest wrote:Spicy mandarin you say? I'll have to buy some in February.

OK, here's a BBC link to Australia Day 2015 photos, I like the aquarium picture, pretty cool.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30978269
Great pics Earnest. Did anyone else notice the difference in the weather between the world's most livable city and Sydney?

Yes did notice

Noticed If it was raining in the most livable city they would have had their blueys on and not short sleeve attire like Sydney.

Post by **Aardvark** » January 29, 2015, 4:45 pm

noosard wrote:
GT93 wrote:I'm very impressed at the strength of the republican feelings in Oz about the Duke's knighthood. It makes me wonder how the hell the Duke's wife is still the head of state.
Easy
Referendums are difficult to get more than 50% of the vote
as lots of people are scared of what the change might bring
so the vote is leave it alone till it is good and broken
Another problem is also getting a majority of the states to agree to the change

Problem is the Republicans want to maintain the Westminster System of Government which gives them all the privileges they have now, but they want the Government to be the only one's who can vote for a President. The People on the other hand have said they want a completely new Constitution (like the USA for example) and the right to Democratically vote for their own President. While these mostly (very wealthy) people and the incredibly uneducated refuse to comply with the wishes of the majority, the Status Quo should prevail. By the way, what we have now aint half bad ..... http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j ... -D8mqHUv0w

Post by **jackspratt** » January 29, 2015, 5:05 pm

From memory, the main two opposing suggestions for selection of a President in an Australian republic were:

- a 2/3rds majority vote by members in both houses of the federal parliament

- direct election by the people

There was a lot of debate about how candidates would be selected under a parliamentary vote system.

I can't remember any real push to change from the Westminster system to, for example, the US system.

The President of Australia would become the Head of State, and may or may not be part of the Executive. If the former, the President would not exercise political power, but act on the advice of the Prime Minister - as currently does the Governor General (except the reptilian Sir Jonker).

There was real concern that a directly elected President may become more popular than the PM, and thereby become a de facto political player.

Post by **waanjai** » January 29, 2015, 10:16 pm

Post by **Laan Yaa Mo** » January 29, 2015, 11:14 pm

Earnest wrote:Spicy mandarin you say? I'll have to buy some in February.

Yes. They come in orange packages, and are delightful. Nothing better than a Fisherman's Friend to clear the throat.

As their Canadian cousins have discovered, the current constitutional monarchy system in Australia, based on the 19th century British system of responsible government, works fairly well, and seems to be superior to the U.S. model, which is based on the 18th century British form of government. This is not to say that the President of the United States acts like an absolute monarch all of the time or that the U.S. government always resembles the 'Old Corruption' associated with Robert Walpole but one can see certain parallels in the way Obama and past Presidents operate, and the connexion between lobbyists and politicians; and in the election of sheriffs and so on.

Post by **Earnest** » January 30, 2015, 3:14 am

GT93 wrote:I'm very impressed at the strength of the republican feelings in Oz about the Duke's knighthood. It makes me wonder how the hell the Duke's wife is still the head of state.

Well, it's not as though us Brits are twisting anyone's arm and it certainly wouldn't make much difference to your average Little Englander (I'm doing irony there, readers). English apathy during the Scottish Referendum was palpable (no offence, Scottish viewers) and I suspect it would be the same for Australia.

If Australia wants to move on then all they have to do is have a referendum. I can't understand the anxiety on whether they become a republic or not - and the same goes for New Zealand.

In short, it's an Australian "dilemma" not a British one. I'm starting to think that people down under enjoy having to complain about the Monarchy. If you don't like it then do something about it but don't keep whinging.

Post by **downunder** » January 30, 2015, 5:25 am

I hope one day we will Earnest. Some of us tolerate it, others couldn't give a damn for what some say about them as "Leeches on Society". As for moaning about it, most Aussies say what they mean, which has nothing to do about complaining.

Post by **GT93** » January 30, 2015, 10:54 am

We don't really have too much to moan about. Our systems of government work and the UK taxpayers subsidize the Royal Family for us. Well, it might be more accurate to say previous UK taxpayers have provided the subsidy in letting the Queen and her ancestors accumulate great wealth through untaxed income.

I suspect when the Queen and other top shelf royals are in NZ that the NZ government meets their expenses. We might even pay for the flights for the Queen and her staff. It would still be a cheap deal for NZ and Australia as the visits aren't that frequent and fairly brief. Far far cheaper than a G20 meeting.

Jeez, Abbott is still taking a big caning about the Duke of Edinburgh's knighthood.

Post by **Earnest** » January 30, 2015, 1:51 pm

GT, stop trying to wind people up, you naughty boy.

Post by **ronan01** » January 30, 2015, 5:11 pm

Earnest wrote:
GT93 wrote:I'm very impressed at the strength of the republican feelings in Oz about the Duke's knighthood. It makes me wonder how the hell the Duke's wife is still the head of state.
Well, it's not as though us Brits are twisting anyone's arm and it certainly wouldn't make much difference to your average Little Englander (I'm doing irony there, readers). English apathy during the Scottish Referendum was palpable (no offence, Scottish viewers) and I suspect it would be the same for Australia.

If Australia wants to move on then all they have to do is have a referendum. I can't understand the anxiety on whether they become a republic or not - and the same goes for New Zealand.

In short, it's an Australian "dilemma" not a British one. I'm starting to think that people down under enjoy having to complain about the Monarchy. If you don't like it then do something about it but don't keep whinging.

Doing a remarkable job with ironing and typing at the same time Earnest.

Not sure the feeling in Qz is about a republic, more about Phil the Greek and worry he may come here to live.

Not sure that folk in Oz are concerned by the republican issue. I think one will come in good time, let it run its course. It will probably raise its head about next election time - not that either side is that serious either way, its just a great way to polarize the polity before the mark an X.

GT is a Kiwi.

Post by **Aardvark** » January 31, 2015, 8:14 am

ronan01 wrote:
Earnest wrote:
GT93 wrote:I'm very impressed at the strength of the republican feelings in Oz about the Duke's knighthood. It makes me wonder how the hell the Duke's wife is still the head of state.
Well, it's not as though us Brits are twisting anyone's arm and it certainly wouldn't make much difference to your average Little Englander (I'm doing irony there, readers). English apathy during the Scottish Referendum was palpable (no offence, Scottish viewers) and I suspect it would be the same for Australia.

If Australia wants to move on then all they have to do is have a referendum. I can't understand the anxiety on whether they become a republic or not - and the same goes for New Zealand.

In short, it's an Australian "dilemma" not a British one. I'm starting to think that people down under enjoy having to complain about the Monarchy. If you don't like it then do something about it but don't keep whinging.
Doing a remarkable job with ironing and typing at the same time Earnest.

Not sure the feeling in Qz is about a republic, more about Phil the Greek and worry he may come here to live.

Not sure that folk in Oz are concerned by the republican issue. I think one will come in good time, let it run its course. It will probably raise its head about next election time - not that either side is that serious either way, its just a great way to polarize the polity before the mark an X.

GT is a Kiwi.

Yes GT is a Kiwi, and he forgot to remind us that they did it first ... http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j ... jq5Ra8LtlA

Post by **GT93** » January 31, 2015, 11:41 am

I had forgotten that Aardy although it was at the back of mind that something had happened. We still have lots of knights. From my poor memory there was some minor negative comment in NZ.

Australia seems different for a number of reasons. First Abbott has little political capital at present and just about everyone including Murdoch and Bolt want to have a go at him. NZ's PM is a teflon man. Shxt barely sticks to him despite being in his third term of office. He could probably get away with awarding a knighthood to Prince Andrew.

Secondly the award in Australia was linked to Australia Day. Honours in NZ aren't linked to our national day. Thirdly unlike NZ's Tories, Abbott has donged so few people with knighthoods. And lastly despite all the above, republican feelings seem far stronger in Australia.