Thinking practically about an Australian republic

Conclusion

As a republican – and I think I am one – I view with horror the idea that the way forward is with a bigger, bolder, more radical, more divisive republican model.

On the contrary, the only viable route to an Australian republic will be through an exercise in political consensus. An unavoidable element of that consensus will have to be an accord between what might be termed progressive or liberal conservatives and more adventurous political and constitutional elements.

The only consensus that we have or ever will have in this context is that we should have an Australian head of state. If that is worth doing, we should do it, again in a manner and form that will attract a similarly wide coalition of republican support.

If it is not worth doing, or if agreement cannot be reached as to ways and means, then we should be resigning ourselves to the reign not of Charles III, but of William V.