Politics Fiji change flag...when will we follow?

[Malifice]

Both the Federal ALP & Liberal Parties do not support gay marriage yet a majority of the supporters of both sides do. So do you trust the government to do what people want?

I'm a (l)iberal. Of course I don't trust government.

You mightn't of been but plenty do.

My main beef is the inclusion of the Union flag. It denotes a colony of the UK.

Now that the UK is officially (and legally) a foreign power, and Australia is officially a sovereign independent Nation I'd prefer it gone. While we are at it, we should include something that represents all of contemporary Australia (a nation comprised of more than British migrants) without singling out yet another particular ethnic or national group (i.e. no Aboriginal flag). I'd also prefer it to be Green and Gold (our national colors) and to represent a united, unique and independent nation (none of which our current flag achieves, and in fact represents the exact opposite)

It worked for Canada. And the USA (itself a former Colony).

 

[Caesar]

I love the state flags of this design, many of which are awesome.

The state flags appear to be designed by someone who doesn't actually understand what states are.

You may as well not have state flags at all if they are just going to be cookie-cutter versions of the federal flag.

 

[rodney86]

I'm pretty sure the state flags are older.

 

[Danny Cullen]

I totally agree with you on that point, its the same thing i was thinking when i first saw it.

Something like this might be more symbolic, forward facing kangaroo

I can't see a kangaroo there. Kangaroo's have legs don't they? Bloody big ones. All I see is fingerpainting.

If the flag gets changed we'll all be worse off with this sort of marketing guru bullshit.

 

[Lagooner]

Green stripe. Gold stripe. Done.

All the best flags are simple and powerful designs. No curvy silhouette kangaroos that look like dinosaurs. No bogan crosses. No rainbows. Just two block colours. The surf lifesaver flag with green replacing red.

P.S. New Zealand will change their flag before we f@#k off our current abomination.

 

[Catfish Alley]

It worked for Canada. And the USA (itself a former Colony).

Canada is a Constitutional Monarchy. We have a Governor General and the Queen is Head of State. Federal issues are still carried out by the Monarchy, Federal and Provincial branches of government. Also, nearly every Province has the Union Jack on their flag.

Just saying, all that was changed in the 70s was the national flag.

 

[Malifice]

Just saying, all that was changed in the 70s was the national flag.

Yeah, but its a good one!

 

[Catfish Alley]

Yeah, but its a good one!

Yes it is But a lot of people point to Canada as a good example of how Australia can become a republic and cut ties to Britain. Canada has done no such thing.

 

[Malifice]

Yes it is But a lot of people point to Canada as a good example of how Australia can become a republic and cut ties to Britain. Canada has done no such thing.

No arguments there.

The point was you guys changed your flag. And did so without the world ceasing to end.

From an outsiders perspective I see Cananda remaining a monarchy as a point of difference with the USA as much as anything else.

 

[Catfish Alley]

From an outsiders perspective I see Cananda remaining a monarchy as a point of difference with the USA as much as anything else.

Like Australia, it's more just the history and systems that are put in place. Some stores are the same, some accents are similar, but it's a very different country over the border.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

Also, nearly every Province has the Union Jack on their flag.

Only three of the nine provinces do.

 

[Catfish Alley]

Only three of the nine provinces do.

I stand corrected. Thanks for helping me pass my citizenship test

 

[Catfish Alley]

Actually, 8 of the Provinces and Territories have a variance of UK flags an symbols.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

You said Union Jack.

 

[Catfish Alley]

Yep, true. Not arguing. Just saying all Monarchist systems are still in place.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

I wonder if republicanism in Canada hasn't gone far due to the Quebec independence issue being an additional stumbling block to national changes.

With their flag and no Whitlam Dismissal event in their history (I think?) and no one caring about British sports like here (the rugbys and cricket) and the associated rivalry I suppose Canadians are less frequently reminded of it.

Also had a considerably lower % of immigrants from the UK in recent decades than Australia has had (and still has).

 

[Dont be a lemon]

Then again their Senate is unelected so maybe they're just weirdos

 

[Caesar]

Neither Australia nor Canada are particularly interested in becoming a republic.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

I'm sure you're sure you're not interested.

 

[Caesar]

First rule of politics is if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[The_Reaper]

Most Australians don't care enough either way so they're fine with the status quo.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

1999's referendum got 45% despite the Prime Minister slagging off the entire idea of a republic, the leader of the 'Yes' campaign being an ultra rich guy most people hadn't heard of, and a vocal minority of "'No' because it's not type I want" folk.

A referendum with the Prime Minister and Government actually supporting it, a more 'consultative' lead up approach (or even just the appearance of that), and far fewer "'No' because it's not type I want" folk (because they'll realise it'll be another generation of nothing) would romp it in with an easy double majority.

Caesar and his ilk try to play down the support because they know the day the Prime Minister casts a 'Yes' vote is the day the monarchy in Australia is rat****ed.

 

[Caesar]

What basis do you have for that assessment exactly? It didn't pass in a single state, and was defeated by a significant margin in all states other than NSW and Victoria. The 'Yes' vote was hugely inflated by the votes of inner city urbanites - rural and regional electorates were by and large completely uninterested in a change.

The simple fact of the matter is that most people aren't really interested in spending a huge amount of money changing one of the few things about our political system that works extremely well on a practical level. We're not going to see a republic in my lifetime and I am completely okay with that. The preoccupation with it is nothing more than frippery.

 

[Frankster177]

The monarchists with their fake brit accents just ran a better campaign.
Then there was phil cleary the DH sabotaging the yes vote, wanting an elected president, when one chosen by the majority of both houses of parliament would be good enough.

 

[Catfish Alley]

So, do Republicans want to get rid of everything from the monarchy? That would mean a complete change in parliamentary and legal procedures. What would we rename Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland??