Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has called for a renewed debate on Australia abolishing its constitutional monarchy in favour of a republic.

During a speech on Thursday night, Mr Shorten said the nation need not wait until the death of the nation’s current sovereign head of state.

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“Like all Australians, I have tremendous respect for Queen Elizabeth, she has fulfilled her constitutional responsibilities with grace for many years,” he said in Sydney.

“But I don’t believe we have to wait for a change of monarch to renew the Republic debate.”

What is needed is a clear and popular republican model, he said — something that was lacking when Australia last voted on the issue in 1999.

“I think our ultimate goal should be to lay out a clear process: choosing the right sequence and combination of options such as a constitutional convention, a plebiscite to gain popular support and choose the model and a referendum to decide by the people whether we enact the change.”

-with AAP, ABC.