No Through Road

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RESIDENTS of Royalty Ave, Highett, and President Rd, St Albans, have very definite views on Saturday's Australian republic referendum.

A majority plan to vote No.

Of course, the Sunday Herald Sun could have found the only No voters in those two streets but of those surveyed, nine said they would vote No, one said she had yet to make up her mind, three told us to mind our own business and another said she did not like either option.

At Royalty Ave, Simon Watkins, 40, said he would vote No because he was not prepared to put such an important decision in the hands of politicians.

"Politicians organised the Sydney Olympics and look at what they did to them," Mr Watkins said.

"They managed to completely stuff up only 12 days - imagine what they could do if we gave them 365 days a year to wreck? I'm for a republic, but by evolution, not by revolution."

Tanya Richie, 36, said she would be voting No.

"I worry about their priorities," Mrs Richie said.

"They're spending millions of dollars on this, and there are so many other issues they should be addressing poverty, unemployment and so many areas that need funding, like hospitals and schools.

"People like Malcolm Turnbull say if we vote No we've got an identity crisis but we, the ordinary citizens, don't have an identity crisis. They do."

Julieta Nyitray, 53, who came to Australia 20 years ago from the Philippines, said she would vote Yes to a republic.

"I'm voting Yes because I don't see any relevance to the British royal family," Mrs Nyitray said.

"Why do we have to go with the Queen? There has been a change of generation, people are thinking differently; we should be an independent country, with an Australian citizen as head of state."

However, Mrs Nyitray said she would vote No to the preamble question because "that can be fixed later".

Another resident of Royalty Ave who asked not to be named said he would vote No. "Things are running along sweetly as they are," the 71-year-old said.

"I used to have a bit of a soft spot for the royal family in days gone by. But my main reason is why change something if it's not broke?"

Elizabeth Smith, 39, said she would vote Yes. "I think it's time to move away from the monarchy," she said.

Three other residents would not say how they would vote. Joanne Vasilakis, 28, said she did not like either option.

"I don't want the queen, but I also don't want politicians making decisions for me," Mrs Vasilakis said.

"I'd like to be able to vote directly for the president, not to have someone else deciding for me."

In President Rd, Lisa Matima, 25, said: "I'm not sure - I haven't made up my mind yet. I've looked at both sides. I'll decide on the day."

Matthew Kavanagh, 20, said he would vote No.

"I'll be voting No because if we get into a war who's going to come and help us if we reject Britain and become a republic?" he said. "Look what happened in East Timor. The Brits and other Commonwealth countries jumped in straight away to help us."

He said his parents would also "definitely" vote against a republic.

Margaret Barry, 49, said she would vote No. "I just feel the government we've got at the moment is fine," Mrs Barry said.

"I like the way the way the country is run now, and I agree with the Prime Minister when he says, 'Why demolish something that is working well?"'