The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Sydney

The number of Australians who want to replace the monarchy with a republic has fallen to its lowest level in almost 15 years, according to a poll published Thursday.

Only 45 percent of Australians favoured scrapping the monarchy for a republic, although the figure rose sharply when respondents considered the prospect of Prince Charles taking the throne, according to the poll from Morgan Research.

Pollster Gary Morgan said support for a republic featuring a popularly-elected president was the lowest since former prime minister Paul Keating raised the issue of dumping Queen Elizabeth II in December 1993. Morgan said the number of respondents backing a republic had fallen six points since February 2005, even though Australians last November elected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who describes himself as a "life-long republican."