Out with the old

As an aid to smooth acceptance of constitutional change by our population, I believe that the title of the new head of state be "Governor-General".

This office would sit comfortably above existing state Governors and probably create a less radical image than would a title such as "President", with its political overtones.

It is important that whatever the name, the role differentiates between the focussed Executive capabilities run by a Prime Minister, and the broad, general, impartial overview of our complex organisational framework, overseen by our Head of State,

He or she should elected by the national populace after being pre-selected by a panel of independent members drawn from the House of Representatives and the Senate. This would create a ballot paper of candidates from which the people would choose their Governor-General for a term not linked to the electoral cycle.

Restricting panel membership to independent members of parliament is a step towards de-politicising the process. By limiting membership of the panel to persons not having a particular political allegiance would aid selection of candidates for the supervisory function, and allow free, honest, personal evaluation of the candidates' merits, helping ensure that the Governor-General's position remains apolitical.

I propose that candidacy be open only to people with a proven record of leadership and management of large, effective organisations. The sort of persons I envisage could be, but not restricted to, holders of previous senior defence command roles, experienced legal practitioners, medical experts, chief executives of successful business enterprises, leaders or heads of large volunteer organisations; in fact any person with experience in the successful management of large numbers of people and resources.

I stress that this ability for detached overview be purely the result of competence to analyse, reason, review, and communicate widely, rather than by holding some kind of personal mark or status, such as that of being a sportsman or having some kind of practical, as opposed to cognitive, skill.

We need good mental skills for a Governor-General, not simply good motor skills.

I suggest also that religious leadership should automatically preclude candidacy so as to ensure the separation between church and state. However, with the present decrease in religious observance and practice in today's society, the resulting ballot result would probably reject religious candidates in any case.

I write these thoughts and ideas as my on-line opinion of how we might commence abandoning our old ways and welcoming a change to the new. I think that we face an immense amount of discussion, planning and deliberation to get to a stage where we can stand alone as a more proudly independent nation.

My enthusiasm for change does not lessen my gratitude and respect for the valuable role that a monarch had on our evolution, nor diminish the tradition of warmth we have for a royal family whose constitutional dominance of our nationhood finally has become irrelevant.

We have enjoyed a carefully nurtured and protected childhood. Now that we have grown up it is time to confirm our maturity, and separate from our parents while still retaining deep affection for them.

The previous example of India highlights a nation which had done so with a vast societal and economic success; the times of empiric rule are well past for us.

Maturity requires us to become a republic.