New Australian leader doesn't plan constitutional change

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's new Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull has flagged that he is in no hurry to sever the nation's constitutional links to Britain by appointing an Australian president as head of state.

Turnbull led the Australian Republican Movement, an advocacy group, when it failed at a 1999 referendum to convince Australians to replace Queen Elizabeth II as Australia's head of state.

But six days after becoming prime minister, Turnbull said on Monday he has no plans to revisit the divisive constitutional issue.

Governor General Peter Gosgrove, the British monarch's representative in Australia, will swear in Turnbull's first 21-member Cabinet later on Monday.

Turnbull on Sunday announced a younger team of ministers that included more women than the 19-member Cabinet of his predecessor, Tony Abbott.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-09-21

The republicans were outfoxed and their vote split between an appointed & a popularly elected Head of State in '99.

Now it is quiet, but the issue will return.

The new PM predicts the republican issue will probably resurface when the Queen dies and Prince Chaz comes to the throne.

This position is not based on what is best for Australia. It is to Politically placate the Monarchist far Right Wing of the Liberal Party and National Party Coalition. Malcolm Turnbull's personal view is that it would benefit Australia to become a Republic and cut our Parliament from the Monarchy. Recent events show how absurd our Political system is that a new Government or Minister has to be 'Sworn in' by a representative of the Queen of ah er Britain? Absurd.