#Congratulations #AlltheBest #TharmanShanmugaratnam 66
#Indianorigin #formerDeputyPM #popularpolitician
#PresidentialElection #President #HeadofState #Singapore
70.4% vote share
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/indianorigin-former-minister-in-singapore-wins-presidential-election-101693586859563.html

@fonecokid

True. But most sub-#septuagenarian #Canadians I know think of the (British) #royal family as "those weird-looking people on the #coins and #bills" and nothing more.

If we somehow managed to get a #constitutional #amendment through [1] that removed them as head-of-state, there would be many a dry eye here north of the #border.

[1] Not gonna happen in my lifetime

#HeadOfState

@JoshuaHolland It's wise to have the #HeadOfState and the #HeadOfGovernment be different people.

#WestminsterSystem

@Dinkenfunkle
My interest is more practical than legalistic. Where we're going, rather than where we are or have been. Law is subject to interpretation, after all, and interpretations change.

I'm looking at the issues from the perspective that our system of government is becoming unworkable. I'd rather see a replacement along Commonwealth lines than the model of the viciously individualistic US republic.

Truth is what it is. Intended audience doesn't change it.

Our understanding of the roles of monarch (as HoS) & GG don't differ substantially.
#Auspol #Republic #HeadOfState
@focussed0

@Dinkenfunkle
Taking into account all available information, there isn't any confusion (unless we WANT to be confused). Despite your implied disdain of public servants, aph.gov.au is an authoritative source.
#Auspol #Republic #HeadOfState

@Dinkenfunkle
To be clear, I reckon there isn't any ambiguity. Some has been confected, to muddy the waters.

If things not being written as and where you'd wish confuses you, then consider New Zealand:
"It is an uncodified constitution, sometimes referred to as an "unwritten constitution", although the New Zealand constitution is in fact an amalgamation of written and unwritten sources."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_New_Zealand
Which for me raises the question:
"Should we rewrite our Constitution or repeal it?"
🤔
Do we trust our politicians to behave ethically in the absence of a guiding document?

@focussed0
When the Governor General was some British aristocrat, they were disconnected from local politics. These days, we select from a pool of locals who aren't so disconnected. The saving grace is that we have a distant monarch who is nominally in control. A republic abolishes that nebulous balance.
#Auspol #Republic #HeadOfState

@Dinkenfunkle
There's a lot that isn't in the Constitution. Australia's is a Westminster Parliamentary system. As such, much is left to convention. For details therefore, you're probably looking in the wrong place.

Much Westminster convention is written down, but none of the writings could be considered "source".

As far as Australia's Head of State, the most authoritative references are probably from Australia's Parliament. For example: "Australia’s head of state is King Charles III."
https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/Powers_practice_and_procedure/00_-_Infosheets/Infosheet_20_-_The_Australian_system_of_government

And I agree. It's time for a complete rewrite of the nineteenth century document that is our Constitution. Just remember that it isn't intended to be a detailed manifesto. The Yanks tried putting too much into their constitution and it hasn't served them well.
#Auspol #Republic #HeadOfState

The problem with the #republic discussion in the #UK is there's been no satisfactory suggestion of how to appoint a #HeadOfState. Our retired politicians and particularly former PMs are probably the least qualified, suitable or desirable.

#ballot #headofstate #theshovel

https://theshovel.com.au/2023/05/04/ballot-for-electing-australian-head-of-state-revealed-2/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=outgoing_qantas_ceo_receives_email_advising_that_his_resignation_speech_has_been_rescheduled&utm_term=2023-05-04

Timely piece on the #Commonwealth from #KennethMohammed #slavery #HeadofState
"...companies listed on the London Stock Exchange control more than $1tn worth of Africa’s key resources: cobalt, gold, platinum, diamonds, oil and gas, as well as an area of land roughly four times the size of the UK"
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/may/02/the-commonwealth-with-all-its-pomp-and-ceremony-has-had-its-day-and-about-time?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

After seeing the last few nightly news bulletins with what seems the endless saga of Harry Vs The Royal Family all I can say is becoming a Republic can’t come soon enough. This inbred medieval institution has finally well and truely run its course. How one of them can be our unelected head of state purely because of the luck of birth would be like a Monty Python sketch if it were not that the King is our head of state. A total embarrassment. Come on, it’s time we finally grew up as a nation. Let’s give indigenous Australians the voice and at the same time vote to once and for all end the monarchy in Australia.

#headofstate #australia #republic #royalfamily

Who will be the first head-of-state to leave Twitter?

If you represent a democratic country continuing on the current Twitter platform is questionable.

#authoritativecommunication #headofstate #spokesperson #leavetwitter #morality