More Australians are in favour of retaining the British monarchy, according to a Nielsen poll conducted two weeks before the Federal elections.
The poll, published in Fairfax newspapers on Sunday, Aug. 29, revealed that public support for a republic has slumped to a 16-year low, according to AAP.
Opposition to a republic has grown by 8 per cent since 2008, with 48 per cent of people now saying they oppose constitutional change.
When asked if Australia should become a republic, 48 per cent of the 1400 respondents were opposed to constitutional change—a rise of 8 per cent since 2008. In contrast, 44 per cent said we should change—a drop of 8 per cent since 2008, said a Seven News report.
When questioned further, 31 per cent said Australia should never become a republic, 29 per cent said Australia should become a republic as soon as possible, and 34 per cent said Australia should become a republic only after Queen Elizabeth II’s reign ends.
The last time backing for a republic was so low was in 1994, five years before Australia had a referendum on the topic.
On Saturday, Nielsen pollster John Stirton said there was a sense of inevitability that Australia would one day become a republic, despite the slump, AAP reported.
After a change of monarchy, a large number of Australians backing Prime Minister Gillard’s stance on the issue, polled that the issue should be considered.
{etRelate 38637, 28237}According to ABC News, monarchist Malcolm Badgery believes the Queen’s death will not lead to a rise in public support for constitutional change.
“There will be an outpouring of sentiment... there'll be a royal funeral and then the coronation,” he said. “So I don’t think it will be quite as easy as Julia Gillard makes out.”
The poll, published in Fairfax newspapers on Sunday, Aug. 29, revealed that public support for a republic has slumped to a 16-year low, according to AAP.
Opposition to a republic has grown by 8 per cent since 2008, with 48 per cent of people now saying they oppose constitutional change.
When asked if Australia should become a republic, 48 per cent of the 1400 respondents were opposed to constitutional change—a rise of 8 per cent since 2008. In contrast, 44 per cent said we should change—a drop of 8 per cent since 2008, said a Seven News report.
When questioned further, 31 per cent said Australia should never become a republic, 29 per cent said Australia should become a republic as soon as possible, and 34 per cent said Australia should become a republic only after Queen Elizabeth II’s reign ends.
The last time backing for a republic was so low was in 1994, five years before Australia had a referendum on the topic.
On Saturday, Nielsen pollster John Stirton said there was a sense of inevitability that Australia would one day become a republic, despite the slump, AAP reported.
After a change of monarchy, a large number of Australians backing Prime Minister Gillard’s stance on the issue, polled that the issue should be considered.
{etRelate 38637, 28237}According to ABC News, monarchist Malcolm Badgery believes the Queen’s death will not lead to a rise in public support for constitutional change.
“There will be an outpouring of sentiment... there'll be a royal funeral and then the coronation,” he said. “So I don’t think it will be quite as easy as Julia Gillard makes out.”
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