Republic issue not dead

Keith Whitfield (Battlers Rejected Republican Idea, August 22) hit the nail on the head when he stated that it was the Malcolm Turnbull republic that was rejected by the electorate in 1999.

The people saw through this republic as a power-grab by the politicians, and as in previous such-like referendums since Federation, deservedly threw it out.

But we must not consider that this issue is dead and buried as Senator Bob Brown of the Greens is advocating a plebiscite and another referendum to follow.

A plebiscite is nothing more than a glorified opinion poll with no legal standing and a second referendum would offer nothing new that the republicans had not already advocated.

However, if they change tack and go for a president elected by the people, US-style, then we would be faced with a president with a mandate to challenge the prime minister on any issue he-she disagreed with, which could inevitably end in loss of governmental process and an indefinite stalemate.

All of this makes our current system of governance look good.

Perhaps the only thing that appears to need improvement is the quality of candidates in pre-selection who wish to represent us in Parliament.

We can only live in hope.

Letter, 12 Sep 2011 Don Parkes, Woy Woy