Poll: Most Australians Want A Republic

A recent poll shows a majority of Australians want to remove Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state, and become a republic.

Fifty-two percent support a republic, 40 percent do not and eight percent are undecided, the Herald/Nielsen poll of 1,400 voters showed. queen-australia

The poll comes as the government and official opposition are both led by republicans for the first time in the history of this former British colony.

The Queen is Australia’s literal head of state, but she represented by a Governor-General, Quentin Bryce .

Australia’s feelings for a republic are nothing new. In 1999, there was a referendum, which failed, and plans for a republic were shelved.

But now there is a new Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, who is a staunch republican.

But even he is suggesting to hold off plans for Australia to officially break away from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth until after the Queen passes away.

Opinion polls have shown that if her heir-apparent, Prince Charles, is crowned, support for a republic with an Australian head of state would surge.

“We cannot have a successful referendum on the republic during the queen’s reign,” Turnbull said.

“In ’99, I said if you vote no it means no for a long time, and the next chance will come after the queen’s reign has ended.”