Australia PM's republic call opposed by Tony Abbott
Australia should become a republic when Queen Elizabeth II dies, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said, just days ahead of the general election.
She remarked the Queen's death would be an "appropriate point" for Australia to move away from having a British monarch as head of state.
However Ms Gillard's main opponent, Tony Abbott, said he could see ''no reason'' why ''existing constitutional arrangements'' could not continue.
17 Aug 2010