Will Australia ditch the monarchy in favour of becoming a republic?

In the wake of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Oprah interview, conversations have turned to whether it’s time for Australia to become a republic.

In 1999, Australia held a referendum on Australia becoming a republic, however, despite opinion polls showing most believed the country should have an Australian head of state, the referendum was defeated.

The current crisis within the royal family is sparking life into the debate once more, with renewed calls for the country to split from the monarchy entirely.

Speaking to the ABC’s News Breakfast on Tuesday, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that he believes once the Queen’s reign ends, Australia should part from the monarchy and instate an Australian citizen as the head of state, “not the Queen or King of the United Kingdom”.

Turnbull was the chairman of the Australian Republican Movement from 1993 to 2000.

“My view in 1999 was that if we voted no to the republic, we wouldn’t come back to the issue until after the end of the Queen’s reign,” he said. “She’s been an extraordinary head of state, and I think, frankly, in Australia, there are more Elizabethans than there are monarchists.

“After the end of the Queen’s reign, that is the time for us to say: OK, we’ve passed that watershed. Do we really want to have whoever happens to be the head of state of — the king or queen of the UK — automatically our head of state?

“We should be so proud of our country and our fellow countrymen and women that we should say only an Australian should be eligible to be our head of state. Only an Australian is eligible to be our prime minister, so why should it be any different?”

In an interview with The Australian, Labor republic spokesman Matt Thistlethwaite said the interview highlighted the fact the British monarchy was “completely removed for modern-day Australians” and said he hoped it would reignite the national debate about the country’s ties to the monarchy.

“If Harry and Meghan can cut ties with the royal family then why can’t we vote democratically,” he said. “I’m hoping it will renew interest among Australians about our future and ties to the monarchy and trigger us to have a mature conversation about where we’re headed as a nation, indigenous recognition, the Uluru statement of the heart, a voice to parliament and selecting one of us to be head of state.”

After Oprah’s explosive interview with the Sussexes, journalist Lisa Wilkinson sparked debate on her Twitter account, asking “So, what do we think Australia? Time for a republic?”

The tweet received over four thousand likes and 980 comments, with opinions clearly divided.

One user with the handle @donutphilosophy welcomed the idea to get away from the culture of “bullying” and “racism” that the Sussexes alleged in the interview, adding that if anyone “earned the title as The Queen, Oprah would be right up there”.

“Yes please. ‘The Firm’ sounds like the worst place to work in. A culture of bullying, racism, cover ups, don’t ask, don’t tell. Disgusting. I’m not a monarchist but even I accept Harry and his family should get security as a minimum because they are high profile targets,” the user wrote.

Other users agreed a referendum was in order but said there were still questions on how the republic would be run that needed to be answered.

“The answer is undoubtedly yes,” said user @Barbara_Gare_. “Never forget in 1999 there was a referendum upended by dividing the people who wanted a Republic. Polls made it clear the people wanted a Republic even then. The question of HOW was the hurdle, and that remains unanswered.”

Another user with the handle @loisperry52 highlighted the scandals plaguing Australian politics currently, saying “no republic thanks”.

“After the last few weeks of Australian politics showcasing what goes on behind the scenes ? No republic thanks ! I’ll take the Royals as Head of State anyday [sic]. Sorry Mrs Fitzsimmons!”