This is from
Newspoll
on December 1999, unfortunately I cannot deep link to it, as it is a pdf in a javascript pop up, but it gives those polled a choice between a directly elected president, an appointed president and the continuation of a constitutional monarchy. The directly elected president led with 50% of respondents replying yes.
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If you have a look at a site called
'Freedom House'
, and then have a look at the country entry for '
Australia
', you will see that there are 3 divisions; 'Free', 'Partly Free', 'Not Free'.
Australia is listed as 'Free' (thanks guys). On this I mostly agree. We are freer than our northern neighbours in SE Asia (Why then would we want to consider ourselves 'part of Asia' Mr Keating?).
I do however feel that we achieve a level of freedom somewhat less than the ideal. Don't get me wrong there, I have worn the uniform of this country, I believe the political institutions of this country work reasonably well, but it could be better.
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