Once this is achieved the future is not determined by academic intelligence but by superstition - superstition takes precedence over rational argument.

This is the challenge facing world governments today.Supporters of an Australian republic want to keep this in mind.

On December 11, 1931 the passing of the Statute of Westminster by the British Parliament freed up the Australian government from Imperial legislation. In effect the convention of the United Kingdom Parliament would no longer legislate for the Dominions, unless requested.

The Westminster system has served this nation without fail in the past.

Change the flag by all means but keep the Australian parliamentary Westminster form of government intact. 

As Rosie Batty's term as Australian of the Year comes to a close, I was reflecting on the much needed publicity she has brought to this area and on what I believe, as a health professional who sometimes is faced with this, is needed to reduce it.

Firstly we need to educate the victims and provide them with the means to leave violent partners. Time and again I see young women who have taken apprehended violence orders against their violent partners choose to let these partners back into their lives, only to put themselves and their children at risk of further abuse. 

The other thing is inequality and poverty.

While it is recognised that family violence cuts across social and economic boundaries, it is also known that women who have a low level of education, are unemployed or are reliant on government pensions as their main source of household income are more likely to experience family violence.

If this government is serious about reducing family violence, it needs to stop cutting funds to education so that women are more able to obtain a good education and be employable. It also needs to stop trying to increase the gap between the rich and the poor.

Over the past decade in Australia, the income of the bottom 20 per cent of income earners grew by 15 per cent, while the income of the top 20 per cent of income earners grew by 28 per cent. During the same period, the income of families reliant on Newstart or Youth Allowance rose by only 4 per cent.

While these are only some of the answers, they are a starting point, one which I feel need immediate attention if this violence is to be reduced.

I would like to comment on the impending kangaroo cull planned for the Australian National University’s Kioloa campus. I think it is an absolute disgrace when we kill perfectly healthy wildlife.

The ANU is not the only large landholder in this area to implement roo culls. In the last few years this cruel practice has being executed on several large properties. Along with the culls there there has also being exclusion fencing erected around many large areas of land.The kangaroos seem to be subjected to more and more persecution.

We have healthy thriving mobs in the Bawley/Kioloa area but if we keep diminishing their land space and subjecting them to routine slaughter how long will this last? 

I cannot understand why our council has to amalgamate with Kiama Council. There is no community of interest. We share a boundary to the north only. Maybe the Government and Sydney Water are eyeing off the very profitable Shoalhaven Water. Don't kill the Golden Goose.