The polls show support for a republic has steadily ebbed since
a peak in December 1999 – when 57 per cent of Australians were in favour –
immediately after the failed 1999 republic referendum.
The latest Ipsos poll found support for Australia becoming a
republic was lowest among those in the 18-24 year old group, with only 26 per
cent in favour compared to 34 per cent in all other age groups.
Greens and Labor voters were more likely to support a republic
(46 per cent and 41 per cent respectively) compared to 27 per cent of Coalition
voters.
Ipsos director Jessica Elgood said 34 per cent support for
republic was the lowest recorded by Ipsos and Nielsen polls since 1979. She said former US president Donald Trump had not
made a presidential system a particularly appealing prospect for most of
Australia.
Australian Republic Movement (ARM) chairman Peter FitzSimons did not accept the result of the opinion poll: "... We have been getting phenomenally strong support.” He claimed ARM's membership had increased by 19 per cent in the past
six months. On Australia Day 2016 Mr. FitzSimons said former PM Tony Abbott's re-introduction of Knights and Dames in the year before had given the ARM momentum. He claimed then, ARM's membership had quadrupled since Mr. Abbott's "captain's pick", although
total numbers were still just under 5,000. Will the new 19 per cent increase bring the figure up to the 2016 level?
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