Would Canada and Australia be better off without a monarch? – Marketplace.org

A recent poll finds that Canada and Australia would ditch King Charles III as their symbolic head of state if given the chance. Daniel Leal – WPA Pool/Getty Images After his recent coronation, King Charles III is now fairly securely ensconced on the British throne, sitting on a level of public support for the monarchy that fluctuates around the 60% mark. But the king’s tenure is less secure in the 14 Commonwealth territories where he still reigns. Six of them — including the two biggest, Canada and Australia — would ditch Charles as their symbolic head of state if given the chance, according to a recent poll. In a 1999 referendum, Australians voted to retain Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in the largely ceremonial role. Now, however, enthusiasm for the monarchy there certainly does appear to be waning for both political and economic reasons. Sandy Biar, CEO of the Australian Republic Movement. (Courtesy Biar) “The idea of inheriting the position of Australia’s head of state is really out of step with Australian values,” said Sandy Biar, CEO of the Australian Republic Movement. “We have a head of state who lives on the other side of the world, who isn’t chosen by us and
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