Campaigners have called on Australia and other Commonwealth realms to contribute towards the half a billion pound ($988mAUD) annual cost of the monarchy.

Campaign group Republic have suggested that countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada should make a contribution to the cost of the monarchy.

The call comes as Charles visits Australia for a brief visit, the first as Australia's absentee monarch.

Speaking for Republic, Graham Smith said today:

"Most Australians don't care about the monarchy, and they're not interested in the royal visit. But that would change if they had to stump up a quarter of a billion dollars towards the cost."

"The small minority of Australians who enthusiastically support the royals say Charles is King of Australia while visiting, but they never offer to cover the cost of their monarch."

"The monarchy costs the British taxpayer more than half a billion pounds a year. Given the royals and their supporters make a big deal about Charles being king of fourteen other countries, perhaps some of the wealthier realms should pay up."

"Then Australians will hear more about why the royals cost so much, about the abuse of public money and exemptions from taxes. And that might focus minds on whether the monarchy is worth holding onto."

"On a simple 'user pays' principle surely every country should pay for their own head of state. We can probably leave the smaller states out of it, but there's no reason Australia, New Zealand and Canada can't pay up."

"I imagine if the UK insisted other realms paid their fair share they would all head for the exit in record time."

Details of the cost of the monarchy are at www.republic.org.uk/halfbillionroyals