A substantial majority of Canberrans want to directly elect their head of state, according to the most recent Canberra Times-Datacol poll.
The poll shows also that about half of respondents want the head of state to play an active part in day to day politics and not just play a largely ceremonial role.
Only 14 per cent of Canberrans are opposed to a republic.
The poll shows that younger people and females are more in favour of direct election than older people and males. People who do not favour a republic are more likely to want a direct election if there is to be one.
Sixty-one per cent want a direct election. The poll re-enforces the view that a majority of Australians want to elect their president, but the support for that view is less in Canberra than elsewhere in Australia, where support runs in the mid to high 70s, according to recent polls.
In Canberra, 27 per cent would like to see election by parliament, which is higher than elsewhere, where it runs in the mid-teens. Canberrans, however, share the view of the rest of the country in virtual complete rejection of selection of the head of state by the prime minister. Only 2 per cent support this method.
Election by the prime minister alone is not an option at the constitutional convention, but the McGarvie model where a council of elders approves the prime minister’s nomination comes close to it. On this poll, the McGarvie model is unlikely to get widespread popular support.
Males and those aged between 35 and 54 tend to be more in favour of a republic; more in favour of parliamentary election of the head of state; more in favour of a largely ceremonial role.
Females and those aged between 18 and 34 tend to be less in favour of a republic (at least more neutral), more desirous of a direct election and an active role for the head of state.
Those over 55 are twice as likely to be opposed to a republic at 28 per cent than in the general population at 14 per cent.
Support for a republic in Canberra now stands at 63 per cent, with 22 per cent neutral, 14 against and 2 don’t know. Support for the republic is higher than elsewhere where it is in the mid-50s.