Australians could be able to have their say on whether to cut ties with the monarchy and become a republic when a “listening” tour gets underway in 2023.

The majority of Australians voted against becoming a republic back in 1999 but debate has reignited after the ascension of King Charles III.

4BC Afternoons decided to run a debate with two key players.

Australian Monarchist League chairman Eric Abetz, a former Liberal Senator, said there was no substance to Australia becoming a republic.

“Very simply, the system works exceptionally well, we are the envy of the world, so if it ain’t broke there is no need to fix it,” he told Sofie Formica.

“What the Republican movement fails to do time and time again is to explain to the Australian people how they would be better off, or our body politic would be better off, if we were to become a Republic.”

Australian Republican Movement CEO Sandy Biar said the monarchy was so far removed from Australia.

He said Australia’s “democracy was far too important to leave it in the hands of a foreign monarch who represents nothing more than inherited privilege”.

“In Australia we believe in a fair go, we believe that we are all equal we don’t believe some people are born better than us,” he said.

“We believe hard work and ability is what matter, but instead in Australia right now we have got a King of Australia, King Charles III , he was simply given the role as Australia’s head of state because of who his parents were.”

Press PLAY below to hear the debate in full