00:03The bottom line is by now, obviously, for many, many decades, Australia has got its own distinct identity, sees itself,
00:11and is thoroughly independent.
00:14And so the monarchy remains this anachronism.
00:17The virtue of having a republic in Australia is that it emphasises the thing we have in common as Australians.
00:26So instead of being in our own little identity group, and there are so many nowadays, focusing on our identity
00:38as Australians in all of our cultural, ethnic, religious diversity, but nonetheless it focuses on those common civic values that
00:51we share.
00:51And I think that's why republics are more important than ever.
00:55There are many problems with the AUKUS deal.
00:58The most fundamental one is that we are almost certainly going to end up with no submarines.
01:04So it's this vast expenditure and this vast investment which will very likely result in us having no submarines at
01:13all.
01:14Now, the US has made it very clear, it's set out in their legislation, that no submarines can be sold
01:23to us unless the President certifies, essentially, that their Navy doesn't require them.
01:29At the moment, they are producing about half as many SSNs as the American Navy needs, let alone to cater
01:39for the American and Australian.
01:40Australia has sacrificed sovereignty for the sake of security, but will end up losing both.
01:45So, I mean, the idea that the United States would threaten to seize the territory of a NATO ally is
01:54mind-boggling.
01:56I mean, it's the stuff of a dystopian novel, frankly.
01:58I mean, it's the stuff of a dystopian novel, frankly.
01:59I mean, it's the stuff of a dystopian novel, frankly.
02:04I mean, it's the stuff of a dystopian novel, frankly.
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