But if you picked, say, thirteen people (two from each state, and throw one in from the combination of the ACT and NT), and require that a two-thirds majority is required to use the reserve powers

I’m glad this thread hasn’t deteriorated into a direct electionists v. ’99ers flamewar.

Anyway, the only possible solution I can think of is to elect a constitutional convention every time we need a new president–the CC delegates would then choose the head of state.

I just can’t see any way other way of avoiding both presidential elections and ‘political’ appointees-as-presidents (other than random phonebook selections.)

I’m puzzled as to the reasoning that raising the Republic would cause “a backlash from voters in marginal seats – many of whom were fearful of losing their jobs”. Surely this is just the line John Howard used against Paul Keating during the 90s recession?

Perceptually, the connection is straightforward.

Many voters, resentful of the government, either with or without reason, will seek ways to punish that government by defying its recommendations. Thus an issue like republicanism, which at the best of times looks like an obsession of the left-liberal elite, comes to represent in the mind of many voters evidence that the government does not care about “real” issues.

This asserted alienation between elites and battlers existed before Howard. But he assiduously cultivated it, giving it a shape and a vocabulary, transforming it into a powerful tool for conservative populism.

This is Howard’s most enduring legacy for Australia.

But if you picked, say, thirteen people (two from each state, and throw one in from the combination of the ACT and NT), and require that a two-thirds majority is required to use the reserve powers, that’s probably good enough as the “in emergency, break glass” group. They could take it in turns to do the official duties.

Heck, we trust 12 randomly selected people with jury duty.

it’s obvious that people want a popularly elected president

Not this particular person, who would prefer a Head of State to be picked at random from the Electoral Roll once every five years — a democratically-sound system (everyone has an equal chance of being HoS), a lot cheaper and much less annoying than an election campaign.

I wasn’t talking about the Patriot Act.

Anyway, enough off-topic, sorry.

Let’s be grown up enough to acknowledge that just because a politician passes a law, doesn’t make it legal, or mean it will always withstand challenge in court.