Even in 1999, when the referendum didn’t succeed, there was evidence that more Australians than not were in favour of a republic. Those voting no were divided by the model and the wording. The Australian Constitutional Referendum Study, conducted immediately after the referendum, showed that in fact only 24% of Australians at the time were in favour of the status quo (see Higley & McAllister below).
Since then, opinions have fluctuated, with polls conducted around significant moments relating to the royal family affecting sentiment. Our research shows that up to 92% of Australians are in favour of a change to the status quo.
Throughout, a staunch group of republican thinkers continue to argue the case for the republic.
Resources
Books
Anatolitis, Esther, When Australia Became a Republic, Monash University Publishing, 2025.
Jones, Benjamin T, This Time: Australia’s Republican Past and Future, Black Inc, 2018
McKenna, Mark and Hudson, Warne, Australian Republicanism: A Reader, Melbourne University Publishing, 2003
Murray, Sarah, Constitutional Perspectives on an Australian Republic: Essays in Honour of Professor George Winterton, Federation Press, 2010.
Woollacott, Angela, Don Dunstan: the visionary politician who changed Australia, Allen & Unwin, 2019 (includes a section covering his ardent support for Australia becoming a republic).
Scholarly Articles and Interviews
Galligan, Brian, Regularising the Australian Republic, Australian Journal of Political Science, November 1993, Vol. 28.
Higley, John and McAllister, Ian Elite division and voter confusion: Australia’s republic referendum in 1999, European Journal of Political Research, 6 January 2003, Vol. 41 Issue 6
Jones, Benjamin T, Labor leaders and an Australian Republic: 1999-2019, History Australia, March 2021, Vol. 18 Issue 1
News Media
Yasmin Poole, The King’s visit and Australia’s Willingness to play colonial subject, ‘The Saturday Paper’ October 2024
James Massola, Republic support surges to record level, but we still like King Charles despite Andrew furore, 'The Age’, November 2025
Other Media
Sammy J’s Ode to King Charles III. A satirical opinion from September 2022
Radio National Hour interview with Esther Anatolitis, Co-chair of the Australian Republic Movement, September 2025
Annabel Crabb’s Civic Duty. A 3-part ABC docuseries about the story of Australia’s democratic system.