You Canadians out there...

[Margim]

Just a question regarding your government.

In Australia, we operate under the Westminster system of government, with two houses of parliament and the government formed from whichever political party has the majority in the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister of the country is the head of that majority party.
Our head of state, however, is the Governer General, who acts on behalf of the Queen (officially - in practise, the PM does all the work).

Now my question is regarding something I heard that you guys have a president - do i have my facts wrong, or is is that the case, and if so, what role does he play. Is he simply a substitute for a Gov. Gen or does he play some other part?

 

[Asher]

We do not have a President.

We've got a Prime Minister and a Governor General.

 

[Ozz]

Originally posted by Asher
We do not have a President.

We should have.

 

[Goonie]

No we shouldn't.

 

[sysyphus]

We shouldn't have a president, nor should we have a Queen (or any foreigner as our head of state).

We SHOULD have an elected governor general with real powers, but not to the extent that a president would have. We should also adopt Australia's voting system.

BTW, what you call the House of Representatives, we call the House of Commons, same as in Britain, but like you, our upper house is called the Senate, but like Britain it is an old cronies retirement club rather than elected.

Margim, what is happening down in Aus as far as becoming a republic? Since the vote a couple of years ago, it's been pretty silent on that front, at least as far as news reports up here are concerned.

 

[Richard III]

Originally posted by Ozz


We should have.

...since we have one in spirit, we might as well have one in law.

 

[andvruss]

We should have a dictatorship with me as dictator

 

[History_Buff]

Yah, if you heard we had a president, it was probably:

a)On a news spoof called "This Hour Has 22 Minutes" on the "Talking to Americans" segment, where we get them to aptly demonstrate thier stupidity to thier larger, northern nation

OR

b)from an uneducated American, the sort featured on the above show.

But essentially we have the same type of government, which makes sense. Same people set it up, at about the same time.

 

[Margim]

Thanks for your replies - it was off an ignorant friend, I think. Anyway - its all quiet on the republic front down here. Unfortunately our anti-republic PM phrased the refurendum question in such a way that it was pretty much guaranteed a burial before it went to the poles. The deputy leader of the Liberal Party (ruling party of the coalition, that is currently in government), however, is a republican, so we'll see how things go in the next couple of years.

 

[Ozz]

Originally posted by Goonie
No we shouldn't.

I'd keep the current system if the GG was someone who actually
did something to make Canada proud, someone like
Ken Taylor, or Paul Henderson, or a order of Canada frickin' hero, instead of a succession of media/political leeches that are gettin'
a bigger reward than being appointed to the senate. (which should be flushed as well)

 

[Margim]

We have the same sort of debates in Australia. I'd keep our system, but replace the name of GG with President, and get the Queen off our coins. It really annoys me that person who's been to Australia maybe three times in her life has a symbolic position of leadership over a country in a different ocean and a different continent and a different hemisphere to our own. Besides, when you look at the facts... we can beat the poms in just about any sport you care to name - I think we should be ruling them!

 

[Ozz]

Originally posted by Margim
we can beat the poms in just about any sport you care to name - I think we should be ruling them!

Rugby, and it ain't over yet.

We can divy up the winning teams retiring players amoug the
commonwealth countries as GGs.

 

[Mega Tsunami]

Just for the record, the Queen has visited Australia 14 times during her reign.
But I do agree it seems strange to hold onto your British ties for so long.

Also for the record, England has beaten Australia at Rugby Union the last 4 times we have played. You have to go back to June ’99 for last time you beat us.
It is a pity that it looks like the final will be between France and New Zealand. A final between the Poms and Oz would be fantastic.

 

[sysyphus]

The rest of you can have your rugby debates all you want, we'd thrash all of you at hockey without breaking a sweat!

Anyway, I'd be interested to hear more about republicanism in Australia, but that requires a different thread, so off I go to begin one.

 

[Margim]

Funny mega tsunami didn't mention the cricket. Or the tennis. Or soccer. Or the commonwealth games. Or...