The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Mar, 2021

    Republic

    Q. To what extent would you support or oppose Australia becoming a republic with an Australian head of state?

    Mar’21 Nov’18 May’18 Jan’18 Jan’17
    TOTAL: Support 48% 44% 48% 44% 44%
    TOTAL: Oppose 28% 32% 30% 29% 30%
    Unsure 25% 24% 22% 26% 26%
    Base (n) 1,100 1,028 1,025 1,038 1,015

     

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Strongly oppose 16% 18% 14% 9% 14% 23% 14% 20% 6% 23%
    Somewhat oppose 12% 12% 12% 12% 12% 12% 10% 17% 14% 9%
    Somewhat support 24% 23% 26% 27% 24% 22% 26% 25% 23% 19%
    Strongly support 23% 32% 15% 18% 25% 26% 27% 22% 29% 26%
    Unsure 25% 16% 33% 33% 25% 17% 23% 17% 28% 24%
    TOTAL: Oppose 28% 29% 26% 21% 26% 35% 25% 37% 20% 31%
    TOTAL: Support 48% 55% 41% 45% 49% 48% 52% 47% 52% 45%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 332 382 386 382 389 92 122
    • Support for republic is now at 48%, consistent with previous years.
    • Support for a republic with an Australian head of state is strongest among Labor (52%) and Greens voters (52%). Those aged over 55 were most likely to oppose the establishment of a republic (35%).
    • A third of women and those aged 18-35 (both 33%) are unsure on their support or opposition to Australia becoming a republic.
  • Feb, 2015

    Republic

    Q.  Are you in favour or against Australia becoming a republic?

     

    Total

     

     

    Vote Lab

    Vote Lib/
    Nat

    Vote Green

    Vote other

     

    Jan 2010

    Mar 2011

    Oct 2011

    Jun 2012

    Apr 2014

    Oct 2014

     

    Shift since Oct 2014

    In favour

    34%

    50%

    22%

    53%

    30%

    41%

    39%

    41%

    39%

    33%

    31%

    +3

    Against

    34%

    21%

    51%

    17%

    38%

    32%

    34%

    33%

    35%

    42%

    31%

    +3

    No opinion

    32%

    30%

    26%

    30%

    32%

    27%

    27%

    26%

    27%

    25%

    38%

    -6

    34% (up 3% since October) of respondents were in favour of Australian becoming a republic and 34% (up 3%) were against. 32% could not give an opinion.

    Greens (53%) and Labor (50%) voters were more likely to be in favour of a republic. Lib/Nat voters (22%) were less likely.

    Males (40%) were far more likely than females (29%) to be in favour of a republic.

  • Oct, 2014

    ,

    Republic

    Q.  Are you in favour or against Australia becoming a republic?

     

    Total

     

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote other

     

    Jan 2010

    March 2011

    Oct 2011

    Jun 2012

    Apr 2014

     

    Shift since April 2014

    In favour

    31%

    42%

    23%

    42%

    29%

    41%

    39%

    41%

    39%

    33%

    -2

    Against

    31%

    20%

    48%

    15%

    34%

    32%

    34%

    33%

    35%

    42%

    -11

    No opinion

    38%

    38%

    29%

    43%

    37%

    27%

    27%

    26%

    27%

    25%

    +13

    31% of respondents were in favour of Australian becoming a republic and 31% were against. 38% could not give an opinion – the highest response in the last 4 years.

    Greens (42%) and Labor (42%) voters were more likely to be in favour of a republic. Lib/Nat voters (23%) were less likely.

    Males (40%) were far more likely than females (22%) to be in favour of a republic.

  • Jun, 2012

    , , , , , ,

    Republic

    Q.  Are you in favour or against Australia becoming a republic?

     

    Jan 2010

    March 2011

    Oct 2011

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    In favour

    41%

    39%

    41%

    39%

    56%

    27%

    54%

    Against

    32%

    34%

    33%

    35%

    22%

    51%

    21%

    No opinion

    27%

    27%

    26%

    27%

    22%

    22%

    25%

    39% favour Australia becoming a republic and 35% are against – showing only a little change since this question was asked in October 2011 (from net +8 to net +4 in favour). 27% have no opinion.

    Those most in favour were respondents aged 45-64 (45%), people earning $1,600+pw (45%), Labor voters (56%) and Greens voters (54%).

    Those most against were aged 65+ (58%) and Liberal/National voters (51%).

    36% of respondents aged under 35 had no opinion.

  • Jun, 2012

    , , , , , ,

    Will Australia ever become a Republic?

    Q. Do you think that Australia is likely or unlikely to ever become a republic?

     

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Total likely

    52%

    65%

    48%

    57%

    Total unlikely

    34%

    26%

    38%

    32%

    Very likely

    12%

    16%

    9%

    16%

    Somewhat likely

    40%

    49%

    39%

    41%

    Somewhat unlikely

    25%

    21%

    26%

    28%

    Very unlikely

    9%

    5%

    12%

    4%

    Don’t know

    15%

    9%

    13%

    11%

    52% think that it is very or somewhat likely that Australia will ever become a republic – and 34% think it is somewhat or very unlikely.

    For people aged 45+, 61%+ think it is likely and 29% unlikely while for those aged under 35, 42% think it is likely and 40% unlikely.

  • Oct, 2011

    , , , , , , , ,

    Republic

    Q.  Are you in favour or against Australia becoming a republic?

    Jan 2010 March 2011 Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    In favour 41% 39% 41% 51% 35% 56%
    Against 32% 34% 33% 21% 45% 19%
    No opinion 27% 27% 26% 28% 19% 26%

    41% favour Australia becoming a republic and 33% are against – showing little change since this question was asked in January 2010. 26% have no opinion.

    Those most in favour were men (51%), Greens voters (56%) and Labor voters (51%).

    Those most against were aged 65+ (56%) and Liberal/National voters (45%).

    Comments »

  • Mar, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , ,

    Republic

    Q.  Are you in favour or against Australia becoming a republic?

    Jan 2010 Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens
    In favour 41% 39% 55% 27% 63%
    Against 32% 34% 20% 53% 15%
    No opinion 27% 27% 25% 21% 22%

    39% of respondents are in favour of Australia becoming a republic, 34% are against and 27% hold no opinion.

    There has been little shift in attitudes from the Jan 2010 poll.

    Labor (55%) and Green (63%) voters are more likely to be in favour of a republic. Lib/Nat voters (53%) are more likely to be against Australia becoming a republic.

    Males (46%) were more likely than females (33%) to be in favour of Australia becoming a republic. However this did not translate to large numbers of females being against Australia becoming a republic (36% of females compared to 31%) of males, but rather more females (31%) than males (23%) stating that they have no opinion.

    Those aged 45-54 were the most likely to be in favour of a republic (48%), but there were also surprisingly high level of support for a republic from older age groups – 41% of those aged 55-64 and 42% of those aged 65+ stated that they were in favour of Australia becoming a republic.

    Comments »

  • Mar, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , ,

    Republic – with Prince Charles or Prince William as King

    Q. Would you be in favour or against Australia becoming a republic if Prince Charles became the next King?

    Q. Would you be in favour or against Australia becoming a republic if Prince William became the next King?

    Total Prince Charles as King Prince William as King
    In favour 39% 38% 37%
    Against 34% 32% 33%
    No opinion 27% 30% 30%

    Attitudes towards Australia becoming a republic barely moved when respondents were asked their opinion if Prince Charles or Prince William were King.

    There was no noticeable difference in attitude between the genders or the age brackets.

    Comments »

Error: