there was some idle talk about this in the s it was suggested that andrew or edward might become king of australia but sentiment has moved past that now the great majority of australians want a republic sadly they just can't agree on what kind of republic but it was striking to see zelman cowen say this week that he would accept a directly elected president if that was the only model that would get up at a referendum it suggests that the two republican camps may be able to reach a consensus that would get the process back on track