Australia's Head of State has been independent since at least 1936

But when he learned that the King had decided to abdicate, Lyons changed his mind and sent another telegram saying: "We beg to ask in the name of your Majesty's subject … that Your Majesty will reconsider your decision and continue to reign over us."

Notwithstanding recent media reports to the contrary, at no stage did Lyons threaten to withdraw Australia from The Commonwealth.

This demonstrates that by 1936 Australia was already fully independent and that the Australian Crown was already separate from the British Crown. It confirms the proposition that we don't need to become a republic to be independent - we have been independent for at least about three quarters of a century.

This, unfortunately, does not stop some people from arguing we should become a republic for the non-reason - so that we can be independent from Britain!