1.   A few years ago, Australians had an acrimonious debate about whether to dump the queen and eventually voted not to.

2.   Australian monarchists and republicans are embroiled in a debate over whether to dump the queen as head of state and install an Australian president.

3.   Australians will vote in a referendum in November on whether to dump the queen and become a republic.

4.   But the opposition and monarchists denounced the move as the latest step in a covert campaign to twist Australia into a republic and dump the queen.

5.   Even former British territories are involved, with Barbados considering shedding a colonial hangover by dumping the queen as its ceremonial head of state.

6.   The proposal to dump the queen is part of a two-year constitutional review that is being considered by parliament.

7.   Yet even Barbados, a very different former British colony that remains genteel with low crime, is considering dumping the queen as ceremonial head of state.

8.   Yet Howard himself has promised Australians a referendum in November to decide whether the country should dump the queen and replace her with a homegrown president.