What's all the fuss about a republic

When it comes to the question of Australia becoming a republic I don't understand what all the fuss is about.

It has been quite bemusing to watch the likes of Tony Abbott stoically defending our connection to the British Monarchy over the past week as Australia Day inevitably raises the question of our future as a nation.

The fact is when it comes to the British Royal family and an Australian republic in practical terms absolutely nothing will change for Australia, Australians, Britain and the British.

If Australia votes to appoint our own head of state our relationship with the British Royal family will remain exactly as it is today. The way we are governed will not change, we will still remain part of the Commonwealth and our affection for members of the royal family will remain undiminished. They will even still continue to visit our distant shores.

In terms of Australia's relationship with the British Monarchy a switch to a republic will not change our relationship at all.

Since the Hawke Government passed the Australia Act through the Commonwealth Parliament in 1986 Australia has been a "sovereign, independent and federal" nation.

The effect of this legislation, which was also passed by the British Parliament in the identical terms, was to remove the remaining possibilities for the United Kingdom to make laws for Australia or to be involved in Australian Government and for appeals from an Australian Court to a British court.

In practical terms we have no remaining governance connection with the United Kingdom at all, and although our Constitution states that legislation must receive royal assent before it becomes law this role has been performed by an Australian in the monarch's name since 1901.

In terms of the way we govern ourselves and how we make our laws not a thing will change if Australia becomes a republic. It will make no change to the lives of Australians at all.

If we do amend our Constitution to appoint an Australian Head of State we will also still remain a part of the Commonwealth, and yes we will still send a team of athletes to the Commonwealth Games every 4 years.

Thirty two republic nations are members of the Commonwealth including Singapore, India, South Africa and Fiji and there is no differentiation in status of membership between republic nations, Commonwealth realms or nations with their own Monarchs like Brunei.

So when it comes to the Commonwealth, voting to become a republic will not change our involvement or status of this organization one bit.

Many Australians profess their affection for the British Royal family as the reason for their opposition to our nation becoming a republic. Whilst the affection is understandable the insecurity is misguided.

If Australia were to appoint our own head of state our affection for members of the royal family will remain undiminished, as it should with the figureheads of a nation with which we have had an historical relationship and share the same values.

For every Australian their relationship with the British Royal Family will remain the same.

Australian gossip magazines will still continue to splash the trials and tribulations of the royals on their front pages, we will continue to enthrall the birth of a royal baby and Australians will still be greeted with that unique love-hate affection in England.

Members of the British royal family will also continue to visit Australia and receive the usual protocol and affection of the Australian people as they continue to do with other nations that have severed all ties with the Monarchy including the United States.

If practically nothing will change in terms of our relationship with the British Monarch and its people why would we become a republic some ask?

It's a valid question and the answer is simple.

If an Australian is capable of fulfilling the duties of our head of state then why wouldn't we appoint one of our own to this important position?

Why shouldn't the young men and women of Australia be able to aspire to be our nation's head of state?

We should reflect our maturity, and shed our colonial insecurity by appointing an Australian as our Head of State- it's the ultimate act of patriotism and independence.