As the brilliantly linguistic Peta Credlin again lays out the case for maintaining our links with King and country, it seems the same sad panoply of try-hards continue their forlorn struggle for their schizophrenic view that “Australia should have its own head of state” when it already does. (Why we will never actually need our own head of state, ST, 7/5). Having a disparate, hands-off referee who strictly follows a constitutional code of behaviours, which we may democratically amend, effectively depersonalises the role, allowing the perfect mix of choice and debate to be garnered in the parliament without imperial interference. All prime ministers and parties should be appalled by the prospect of a competitor from Yarralumla muddying the waters in a system that works so well. Having an elected president of Australia would mean the entire mode of government would need to be rewritten in the process. Ironically, Australia was born after the spawning of republicanism in the USA. One might wonder how life in that former set of colonies might have evolved if the British had won the War of Independence and it had prospered without its murderous second amendment and erratic presidents. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta. 14May2023.