From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli

WHEN precisely, in the span of time, were journalists touched by the cosmos with the exclusive responsibility of predicting the future shape and form of the Nation?

With no supporting empirical evidence, a number of factoidal reports are suggesting this visit to Australia by His Majesty, King Charles 111 will be his last, inferring Australia is about to become a republic! Categorically, the last referendum revealed there is no majority public desire to severe our link with The Crown; to change Australia’s head-of-state; nor, more importantly, to irrevocably transform our style of government. While it is the ambition of republicans, and the prime minister, it is not consequentially the desire of the majority. Disquietingly, Australia’s current Governor-General, Samantha Mostyn, has expressed republican support. It is a puzzlement Her Excellency accepted the appointment.

The press corps, it would seem, comprises a multitude of direct descendants of Nostradamus, all of whom are imbued with the wisdom of Solomon; or perhaps, like Merlin, they their lives backwards, and, having lived the future, are able to share it with us, in the most unambiguous terms.

Like many fellow travellers — those of us who are not gifted with a third eye and therefore lacking in ability to astral travel, I pause to know the collective result — the voice of the people, before venturing an opinion. None of us is endowed with the capacity to predict societal change. The taxpayer funded ABC has become a haven for élitist, opinionated broadcasters, including the irritating Pat Karvelas, and the omnipresent Annabel Crabb, both of whom have a propensity for relentlessly expounding their point-of-view. Ms Karvelas has, more recently, become an unbearable, dogmatic broadcaster; a persistent know-all who seemingly believes there are two opinions: hers, and the wrong-one!

There is a plethora of opinion. We must be wary and exercise a healthy degree of suspicion. There is a willing to mislead, deviously. Many definitive assessments, fallaciously touted as news reportage, are the partisan views of the author – a personal, ideological articulation which does not necessarily reflect public attitude. We live in an age of dubious celebrity. Social media has gifted the dull and ignorant a megaphone. Fame is a parasite which distorts status; emboldens delusional influencers to suppose they matter in the greater scheme, behoving them to convert public opinion. Media megalomaniacs believe they are central to the story — chosen by the universe to drive the agenda.

Australia’s system of government is envied by many. The spurious assertions questioning the survival of The Crown are being propagated by the same pundits who predicted a Liberal Coalition election loss, 2019. Intriguingly, republican propaganda is predicated on a divisive analysis of the monarchy, and by definition, The Crown, and its history. Never do republicans offer a constructive diatribe extolling the virtues and anticipated benefits of change. The repetitive mantra is tedious: “We want an Australian head-of-state.” While our system of government is not perfect, it is superior to the American model. Certainly, we do not want a president redolent of Donald Trump, or Putin.

News and current affairs has become a form of infotainment. Daily, we are bombarded with misinformation, disinformation, half-truths, and a litany of blatant lies. We must be wary to survive; differentiation between fact-and-fiction, and the trustworthiness of our information sources, is imperative.

Be cautious — democracy is fragile!

Roland joins Brett Macdonald 3BA each Monday 10.45AM. Contact: [email protected].