Teh One Who Knocks
04-25-2011, 11:21 AM
Agence France Presse
SYDNEY (AFP) – Support for Australia becoming a republic has fallen to a 17-year low, according to a poll published on Monday, just days ahead of Britain's royal wedding.
The Newspoll survey found that almost as many Australians wanted to retain ties to Britain's royal family as those who wanted a republic, with support for severing links falling to 41 percent -- the lowest level since March 1994.
Only 25 percent of those polled were strongly in favour of a republic.
The number of those opposed to cutting the royal link had risen to 39 percent according to the poll of 1,201 people, published in The Australian newspaper, while one in five said they had no strong view either way.
Support for a republic was highest among those aged 35-49 and men were more likely to be in favour of abolishing Australia's monarchy than women.
Australians voted against becoming a republic in a 1999 referendum and support for republicanism peaked between 2000-01 at 52 percent. It has steadily ebbed ever since.
But despite Prince William's popularity in Australia, 45 percent of those surveyed said they would support abolishing the monarchy if he were king.
The young prince, who is to be married on Friday, was warmly received on two recent visits Down Under, where his late mother Diana was much loved, and monarchists believe his profile has boosted support for the royals.
"It's very, very unlikely that we will see a plebiscite (on a republic) in the foreseeable future," said Philip Benwell from the Australian Monarchist League.
"When you just had the queen (Elizabeth II) and Prince Charles, they're both of an older generation. Now you've got Prince William, he bridges that gap," Benwell told AFP.
"Prince William also bridges the gap between Charles and Diana. The republicans in many ways have missed the boat."
Australia is an independent parliamentary democracy that retains Britain's monarch as its head of state. Other former British colonies such as Canada and New Zealand have similar constitutional systems.
SYDNEY (AFP) – Support for Australia becoming a republic has fallen to a 17-year low, according to a poll published on Monday, just days ahead of Britain's royal wedding.
The Newspoll survey found that almost as many Australians wanted to retain ties to Britain's royal family as those who wanted a republic, with support for severing links falling to 41 percent -- the lowest level since March 1994.
Only 25 percent of those polled were strongly in favour of a republic.
The number of those opposed to cutting the royal link had risen to 39 percent according to the poll of 1,201 people, published in The Australian newspaper, while one in five said they had no strong view either way.
Support for a republic was highest among those aged 35-49 and men were more likely to be in favour of abolishing Australia's monarchy than women.
Australians voted against becoming a republic in a 1999 referendum and support for republicanism peaked between 2000-01 at 52 percent. It has steadily ebbed ever since.
But despite Prince William's popularity in Australia, 45 percent of those surveyed said they would support abolishing the monarchy if he were king.
The young prince, who is to be married on Friday, was warmly received on two recent visits Down Under, where his late mother Diana was much loved, and monarchists believe his profile has boosted support for the royals.
"It's very, very unlikely that we will see a plebiscite (on a republic) in the foreseeable future," said Philip Benwell from the Australian Monarchist League.
"When you just had the queen (Elizabeth II) and Prince Charles, they're both of an older generation. Now you've got Prince William, he bridges that gap," Benwell told AFP.
"Prince William also bridges the gap between Charles and Diana. The republicans in many ways have missed the boat."
Australia is an independent parliamentary democracy that retains Britain's monarch as its head of state. Other former British colonies such as Canada and New Zealand have similar constitutional systems.