Support for an Australian republic has again slipped, with just 36% of voters supporting a republic, according to today’s Essential Report poll, although there’s greater support for waiting until the death of the current monarch, Elizabeth Windsor.
Support for a republic has waxed and waned in recent years — it was as high as 41% in 2011 but plunged into the low 30s in 2014, with opposition to a republic at one stage overtaking support, 42% to 33%. Support crept back to 39% in September, but has fallen back three points since then, while opposition is up two points to 31%. Coalition voters remain wedded to monarchism, with 43% opposed to a republic and just 30% supporting it. Men are significantly more likely to support a republic than women.
Coalition voters are happier with the idea of a republic at the end of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, supporting it 41% to 38%, while overall voters support it 45% to 29%. Older voters have the strongest views: 47% of voters over 55 support a republic at the end of the current reign, 35% oppose it and just 18% have no opinion, a much lower figure than younger voters.
Asked if Australia will “ever” become a republic, 56% of voters say it will and 24% of voters say no, with little difference between party affiliation.
There’s much greater opposition among voters to changing the flag, changing the national anthem or changing the date of Australia Day from the divisive January 26th, which commemorates the date of British invasion. Just 23% of voters support changing the day of Australia Day, while 59% oppose it, with 35% saying they are “strongly” opposed. Support is much stronger among Greens voters and under-35s. There’s 28% support for changing the national anthem from innocuous dirge Advance Australia Fair and 54% opposition, and 33% support for changing the flag, but 55% opposition.
On voting intention, the Coalition vote remains at 44% and Labor’s vote on 35%, with the Greens up a point to 11%, for a two-party preferred outcome of 51%-49% in the government’s favour, down a point from last week.
I favour Australia’s national day remaining January 26. But it should be called ‘Republic Day’. There shouldn’t be any difficulty in proclaiming a republic to fall on a given date, in the same way that Germany fixed its national day (Germany Unity Day) to fall in early October so as to avoid the other contentious possibility of November 9, the fall of the Berlin Wall (also Kristallnacht).
In the (until very recent) absence of active campaigns to address the republic & flag, it’s not surprising support is relatively low at the moment, with substantial ‘undecided’.
Support for these potential changes would gather momentum as arguments are mounted and people apply their minds; especially if NZ changes its flag.
Just wondering about the question “Would you support or oppose Australia becoming a republic at the end of the Queen’s reign?” I oppose tying the change to the happenstances of life, so that might be a ‘No’ answer. I want Australia to become a republic today, or realistically as soon as the constitutional processes and a referendum can be organised.
A two-party preferred outcome of 51%-49% in the government’s favour, down a point from last week.I wonder if Supamal is looking at essential rather than the fantasy Murdoch polling when pondering his election timing..
I agree Steve. I always find such questions fascinating. Why will the death of Elizabeth II result in any change? What is the trigger in such a happenstance event that will result in Australia suddenly becoming a republic? I simply don’t get it.