Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is dampening expectations over a renewed push for Australia to become a republic.
Responding to calls for the issue to be revisited, Mr Turnbull - himself a former head of the Australian Republican Movement - says there has to be a sense that the time is right.
"There are many more urgent issues confronting Australia and indeed confronting the government than the momentum or the desire for Australia to become a republic," he told reporters after the national citizenship ceremony in Canberra.
Mr Turnbull said he took the view after the 1999 referendum defeat that the best time to try again for an Australian head of state would be after the end of the Queen's reign.
"I have led a `yes' case for a republic into a heroic defeat once, I have no desire to do so again," he said.
"What we will have to see is whether there is enough popular momentum."
During his time at the helm of the movement he learnt momentum needs to be built through grassroots support.
"I can't stress enough that this is a decision for the Australian people," he said.
The prime minister said the government would monitor the strength of support.
"I have no doubt in the future there will be another referendum and the matter will be decided as it should be by the Australian people, but the timing of that referendum has to be right."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten challenged Mr Turnbull to "seize this moment" after state and territory leaders declared their support.
He acknowledged Mr Turnbull was "badly bruised" after the 1999 campaign, but said now is the time for the pair to work together.
"I call upon Malcolm Turnbull to stand up for what he believes in," Mr Shorten told reporters in Melbourne.
Newly awarded Australian of the Year David Morrison says the nation should revisit the debate, but rejects suggestions he intends to pursue the issue politically during 2016.
"I think it appropriate that 16 years after the last referendum we at least start again the conversation about where we may go in the future," he said.
"But if the nation doesn't want to debate this and doesn't want to revisit the issue, my voice will have no consequence at all."
The Australian Republican Movement wants a plebiscite on the republic by 2020, to be followed by a referendum if the initial vote is successful.
"(Political support) will get us nowhere unless we can broaden that consensus into the community," ARM national director Timothy Mayfield told Sky News.
