Republican Passions Rise

by Dennis Shanahan
The Australian, 6 August 2001

Australians are becoming more passionate about the republic, with strong feelings for or against reaching the highest level on record.

The polarisation of views is occurring in all groups, including conservative voters and those over 50, traditionally the groups least supportive of a republic.

There are still more people in favour of a republic, a majority of 52 per cent, than against, at 35 per cent.

The stronger feelings on the issue come as different models for an Australian head of state are being offered in an effort to unite the pro-republic movement.

Former deputy prime minister and national party leader Tim Fischer, who has declared his support for the republic, has been the latest to produce referendum proposals.

According to a Newspoll survey taken exclusively for The Australian, there has been little change in overall sentiment about the republic since August 1999.

Just over 50 per cent of voters have continued to support an Australian republic since the middle of 1999, from a peak of 54 per cent in September 1997. The numbers against a republic have also remained steady for the past three, years, around 35 per cent. But while the overall numbers for and against have not changed, there has been an increase in intensity of feeling within the opposing camps.

Those who "strongly support" an Australian republic have reached a record high of 39 per cent, six percentage points above the level ill March last year and six points above those strongly in favour in September 1997, when support for a republic was at its peak. The increase in strength of support was across all gender, age and political groups.

Strong support for a republic among Coalition voters jumped eight percentage points from 19 to 27 per cent, about the same as the rise among those aged 35-49, up from 38 to 47 per cent.

Even in the group over 50, where support for the republic is lowest, strong support increased from 28 to 31 percent.

Thirteen per cent were "partly in favour" of becoming a republic.

For those strongly against a republic, there were similar, but smaller, increases among Coalition voters, up five points, and those over 50, up three points.

The proportion strongly against a republic was 23 per cent, equal to its last
high point in March 1999 and up three, points since March last year.

NB: Detailed information and results from this poll are accessible through the Opinion Polls section of the Newspoll website.