Bill Shorten 'sells' constitutional monarchy

It is also important to know that these conditions are no accident. Australia is like it is for many historical and cultural reasons but one of the biggest lynchpins is the Australian Constitution.

Basically it works exceptionally well, is self-correcting and manages to place power exactly where it should be, in the elected Parliament. The ceremonial person at the top makes no difference to the day to day lives of Australians. The decisions of the Prime Minister on the other hand, make all the difference.

I'm not in love with the monarchy and have no bonds of affection with Briton, neither am I opposed to republics per se. What I do love is perfectly working stability and I am very wary of snake oil salesmen who try to sell me anything on the basis of emotional appeal or cultural condemnation. If someone were a seller of governmental systems to societies, Australia’s would be one of your best-selling models.

As the old saying goes, 'If it's not broke, don't fix it'. And this is the fundamental selling point that the Republican Movement lacks, it has no raison d'être, because there is simply no overriding reason for change. There is no revolutionary cause. 

If the technical reasons against change weren't bad enough there is another issue stacked up against them and it is the people trying to sell it.

Hence the title of this article, for all of those who love our stability and know that change for change's sake is a recipe for disaster, we need Bill Shorten. 

As leader of the Labor opposition, he has latched onto this issue in a bid to give him traction with the electorate. For people like him, The Republic is one of those issues you can bring out of hibernation when you need it, send it out on an electoral mission and then pack it on ice when you don’t need it anymore. For those true believers out there, this is not the boost you were hoping for, this is a curse you don’t need. Cheering someone you already agree with wont help your cause, it will just make you feel good and convince no one else.

As soon as Bill’s on the job, it becomes political. The issue becomes a political tool used for political ends and when it’s Bill, political ends means anything that benefits Bill.

Leadership from such a polarising figure is the single biggest selling point for keeping things the way they are. I could not think of a better way to sink your intentions than to place this man as a spokesperson for your mission.

The situation is so out of the stream of consciousness for regular Australians that even the Prime Minister doesn’t support it at the moment. At least the PM has the credibility of being a champion of the movement before he was in politics and he’s not going anywhere near it. The only time anyone offers an opinion on it is when a pollster calls them up asks them a question. Just before the call, they were looking at their childcare bill and working out how to pay for their utilities.

Once the Republican Movement realises that Bill is killing any possibility they have of broadening their appeal they should quietly take him aside and politely ask him to shut up.

As an alternative, they can appoint an arrogant bombastic journalist who treats anyone who disagrees with him with sneering disdain. Oh dear.......

Keep mocking your opponents. Keep insulting the public. Calling voters deplorables is such a successful tactic after all.