Prince Harry’s bombshell book Spare causes surge in support for an Australian republic – as anti-royal campaigner Peter FitzSimons cheers and takes a dig at ‘monarchy nutters’
- A poll found 40 per cent of Aussies want a republic
- Only 35 per cent wanted a republic in September, 2022
- Voters were asked if Harry and Meghan affected their choice
Prince Harry’s new book has seen more Aussies support Australia becoming a republic but not because they agree with the ‘evil Royals’ narrative – they’re just sick of the drama.
A poll conducted by the Resolve Political Monitor for the Sydney Morning Herald of 1,606 Australian voters found more Aussies want to see the nation become independent from Britain compared with poll results in September last year.
The data collected shows 40 per cent of voters were in favour of Australia becoming a republic with 22 per cent stating they were strongly in favour and 18 per cent somewhat in favour.
When asked the same question following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September last year, only 35 per cent of voters said they wanted to see Australia become a republic.
A new poll found 40 per cent of Australian voters want to see the country become a republic with 21 per cent saying their opinion was influenced by Harry and Meghan’s (above) TV interviews and documentaries, as well as Harry’s new book Spare
The poll first asked 1,606 voters whether they were in favour of Australia becoming a republic (results above)
Voters were also quizzed on whether Harry and Meghan’s appearances in TV interviews, their Netflix documentary or Harry’s bombshell book Spare had influenced their position on an Australian Republic.
Poll
Should Australia become a republic?
Should Australia become a republic?
Now share your opinion
Among the revelations about the royal family made in his book, Harry claimed Prince William ‘knocked me to the floor’ during an argument in 2019 and ‘lunged’ at him in 2021 when he confronted Will about the family’s treatment of Meghan.
Of the 21 per cent of voters who said their opinion was affected, 14 per cent said they were more likely to vote for a republic while 7 per cent said they were less likely.
But despite Harry and Meghan’s efforts to antagonise the Royal family, Australian Republic Movement national director Sandy Biar said it’s more likely Aussies want to move on from the Royals because they’re tired of the bickering.
She said the brief jump of Australians expressing support for the monarchy following the Queen’s death didn’t worry the ARM because the respect would quickly be undone by other Royal shenanigans.
The poll then asked whether the conduct of Harry and Meghan had influenced their support for a republic (results above)
Vocal republic advocate Peter FitzSimons (pictured with wife Lisa Wilkinson) said more Australians would vote to make Australia a republic in a real election because ‘actual monarchy nutters are very few’
‘The polls last year didn’t concern us in the slightest. We knew that once the reality of having King Charles set in, support would swing back towards a republic with a vengeance,’ Ms Biar told the Herald.
‘The royals are too busy fighting among themselves to represent Australia or stand up for our interests.’
Vocal advocate for a republic Peter FitzSimons, the husband of high-profile TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson, shared the poll on Twitter, writing: ‘Royal drama pushes Australian voters towards republic.’
He later added: ‘A lot (of voters) are undecided, and when the campaign starts, it will break our way. Actual monarchy nutters are very few.’
The poll data revealed 30 per cent of Australians remained unsure of whether they’d vote for a republic or not.
Assistant Minister for the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite said a new Australia Day date would help Aussies come together once the country became a republic (pictured, Australia Day revellers)
Assistant Minister for the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite said a new Australia Day date when the nation becomes a republic could better unite the nation.
He said the government didn’t have any plans to change the date of Australia Day.
‘But I do recognise that for many Australians, particularly First Nations Australians, it is a difficult day and it’s not a day they do feel pride and wish to celebrate,’ he told Sky News.
‘In the future, we could look to an alternative and in my view, that alternative could be if Australians vote to become a republic and we recognise our true independence and maturity as a nation.’
The Albanese government has ruled out holding a republic referendum in this term of parliament despite signalling its support for the push.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Australia Day as ‘our chance to celebrate just how fortunate we are to live in the greatest country on earth’.
‘Importantly, it is also an opportunity to reflect on how we can make it even greater,’ he wrote in a Thursday opinion piece.
THE ARGUMENT FOR AN AUSTRALIAN REPUBLIC
Australia’s ‘Head of State’ has been the head of the British monarchy since the nation’s federation in 1901.
The Head of State is responsible for ‘safeguarding Australia’s constitutional order’. They can appoint or remove Prime Ministers and call elections among other things but do not control Australia’s day-to-day governance.
The move to make Australia a republic would see an Australian Head of State instead of a British one.
The Australian Republic Movement believes the Head of State should be Australian for three key reasons:
Source: Read Full Article
