Australians for Constitutional Monarchy

April 22, 2003
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release

Statement by the National Convenor
National Office, Sydney Australia

A recent poll by the respected National Business Review must have devastated republicans. Coming after two polls in Canada showing a similar aversion to a republic there, it must cause considerable concern among Australia's dwindling band of Republicans.

Perhaps even more worrying, is that not only is the number of people who think a republic is inevitable down five points to 46%, it is the young who are ,at 36% ,are less inclined to see this happening than the old ,at 54%!

Fifty four percent are opposed to a republic, up percent, 29 percent are in favour and the rest undecided or 'don't know'.

In other words, 71% do not support a republic.

Of course if there were a referendum, the Yes vote would be even lower, if the Australian experience is any guide.

Readers will recall that the favourite line of republicans is that our constitutional system will die with Australia's senior citizens. This line has been vigorously argued by Senator Susan Ryan.

In Wednesday's Australian(16 April 2003) Emma -Kate Symons lampoons, as she is entitled to, ACM 's campaign to put the Governor back into her purpose built accommodation. Why? Because monarchists are an ageing group!. But so are newspaper readers. Better be careful with that line, Emma-Kate.

The recent call for a plebiscite in Australia is thus even more mistimed.

If the ARM wants to find out what Australians are thinking they should commission -and pay for their own polling. Too many millions of taxpayers' funds have already been diverted from schools and hospitals into this folly.