tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004769.post114277697842417591..comments2024-02-21T19:17:51.003+11:00Comments on Ari on the web: Just what would happen if we became a republic?Ari Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06077102567908140945noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004769.post-1142850976548023352006-03-20T21:36:00.000+11:002006-03-20T21:36:00.000+11:00If Australia became a republic it wouldn't be any ...If Australia became a republic it wouldn't be any different to what would happen if someone was imprisoned in France or Germany now - there are various international agreements, and the UK is subject to both the European Convention on Human Rights and has passed its own Human Rights Act (France and Germany as well as every other European country are in the same boat - remember that the ECHR is NOT an EU document). <BR/><BR/>Remember, that only 16 Commonwealth countries out of about 55 have the Queen as head of state - the rest are all republics (eg India, Pakistan, South Africa, Nigeria etc etc), and the position of Head of Commonwealth is not a hereditary one for the British Crown. <BR/><BR/>Sarp's problem is a no goer - anyway, the Crown can't act without the British Parliament, and the British Parliament is constrained by these agreements etc. Ahh the wonders of the rule of law... Sarp might also want to look at the Pinochet case - see Phillippe Sands' book 'Lawless World' for a good write up - or the Al Adsani case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com