Prince Harry and Meghan revive Australia’s monarchists
Support for Australia to become a republic and cut ties with the British monarchy has plunged to its lowest level in 25 years — thanks to Meghan and Harry. HAVE YOUR SAY
Support for Australia to become a republic and cut ties with the British monarchy has plunged to its lowest level in 25 years after Prince Harry and wife Meghan captured Aussie hearts on their recent tour down under.
A special Newspoll conducted for The Australian after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s royal visit last month shows the number of Australian’s who back becoming a republic has taken a sharp dip to 40 per cent.
That’s down from 50 per cent at the time of the last royal visit by Prince Charles in April.
It’s the first time the number of Australians opposed to becoming a republic have outnumbered those in favour since the referendum on the republic in 1999.
The result comes as Labor announced it would hold a $160 million plebiscite on the republic in its first term if it won the next federal election.
In a statement yesterday, the Australian Republican Movement welcomed the announcement, saying: “Australia’s next head of state should be a citizen of Australia, chosen by Australians. But without change, no Australian will even be asked, and King Charles will be Australia’s next head of state.”
“The best way now would be for the national vote also to include a question about how our head of state should be chosen. That essential decision, for a model of popular or parliamentary election, should be put to every Australian in a national vote.
“The result should have the authority of all Australians and should direct the development of the detailed constitutional changes to be put to referendum by 2022.”
But today’s Newspoll results show the plebiscite, which the question “are you personally in favour or against Australia becoming a republic”, would be lost if held today.
Originally published as Prince Harry and Meghan revive Australia’s monarchists