Australian support for monarchy at 19-year high

AFTER thousands of people lined the streets of towns and cities across Australia during his seven-day tour, the Prince of Wales unsurprisingly declared: “I love Australia.”

But the Prince may have had another reason to be in a jubilant mood yesterday, as a poll showed opposition to scrapping the monarchy in the country had risen to its highest level in almost two decades. A survey for The Australian, the national newspaper, in the middle of his Commonwealth Games visit, showed that 41 per cent of people were against the creation of a republic, compared with 38 per cent in another poll less than a year ago.

However, 50 per cent of Australians polled still said they wanted to scrap the monarchy. And the desire to abolish the monarchy was slightly higher when people were asked for their position if Charles were king, with 55 per cent then backing a republic.

Nevertheless, the results show a level of support for the monarchy not seen in survey results since 1999, the same year a referendum was held on replacing the Queen and Governorgeneral with a president. In the referendum, 54.87 per cent of Australians voted for the monarchy to continue.

But the debate has rumbled on and Malcolm Turnbull, the country’s prime minister, who is in favour of a republic, has said it is possible Australians could have their say once more after the death of the Queen.

Before the Prince’s visit, Paul Keating, the former prime minister, suggested that the heir to the throne would support Australia becoming a republic. He told The Sunday Times: “I have no doubt he believes Australia should be free of the British monarchy and that it should make its own way in the world.”

“None of that is to diminish the commitment and sense of duty that Prince Charles displays towards Great Britain and, as constitutional arrangements stand, towards Australia.

“He is a great friend of Australia – there is no doubt about that.”