Australia's Labor opposition promises republic referendum

Australia's Labor opposition, vowed to hold a referendum on whether the country should formally become a republic if it wins the next election.

Its leader, Bill Shorten, said, the move "does not change our respect to the Queen for her service, but we are not Elizabethan, we are Australians".

He was referring to PM Malcolm Turnbull's description of himself as a "very strong Elizabethan", before meeting the Queen this month. The last referendum was held in 1999.

Australia is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with the Queen as head of state.

The referendum would be held in the first term of a Labor government, he said.

UCJ, UNILORIN.