The new federal government says the “twilight years” of Queen Elizabeth’s reign are a good time to rekindle the debate over Australia becoming a republic.
Key points:
- The Deputy Minister of the Republic has acknowledged that the issue has not been on the agenda for many years
- Matt Thistlethwaite says his role will be to educate people about Australia’s alternative to a monarchy
- Workers will not seek to formally distance themselves from the monarchy in their first term
Labor wants to hold a new referendum to abandon the monarchy and adopt Australia’s own head of state. but not until his second term, if he wins the 2025 election.
The discussion comes as celebrations intensify around the world for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, which commemorates 70 years on the throne, and more than two decades after the republic’s failed referendum.
Republican Deputy Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said support for a republic could grow after the death of the 96-year-old monarch.
“As the queen reaches the twilight of her reign, we can, and should, pay tribute to her for the wonderful work she has done,” he said.
“But I think Australians are now starting to think about what will come next for our country.
“We are an independent nation. We have our own unique identity and culture. We are an economic power in Asia Pacific, and I think it’s time to start serious talk about what will come next for Australia after Queen Elizabeth “The end of the reign.”
Thistlethwaite said he acknowledged that the issue had not been on the agenda for many years.
“There [is] a whole generation of Australians, newcomer migrants, who don’t understand this issue, “he said.
“My role is very educational in the early stages: to tell people that we have a foreign monarch as head of state, we have a representative empowered to the governor general, but that we can have an Australian as our head of state. Status. “
Read more about Australia’s new government:
Many “still marked” by the last referendum
Just after he was sworn in at the ministry on Wednesday, Mr Thistlethwaite could be heard saying to Governor-General David Hurley “your term is secure with us” as he shook the Queen’s representative’s hand and posed for photos.
In opposition, Thistlethwaite has served as assistant minister in the shadow of the republic since 2019.
The last time Australians were asked if the country should become a republic was in 1999, but the proposal was not well supported, in large part by dissatisfaction with the proposed model.
According to the Constitution, a referendum is only successful if two benchmarks are met: more than half of the population with Australian votes must vote in favor of the plan, and a majority of voters in four out of six states must also vote. to agree.
The opinions of ACT and Northern Territory voters only count for the national majority.
Since Australia said “no” to becoming a republic in 1999, the Australian Republican Movement has continued to campaign. (Facebook: Movement of the Australian Republic)
In 1999, only the ACT registered a majority vote in favor of overthrowing the monarchy.
Thistlethwaite admitted that there were profound flaws with the model of the republic put in place by the Australian people more than two decades ago, where the governor general would have been replaced by a president, appointed by the federal parliament.
“Many of us are still marked by this,” Mr Thistlethwaite said.
“I was probably involved in the ’99 campaign. It was one of the first things I took part in as a youth political movement.
“The split between Republicans was fatal to the success of that referendum, and I am deeply aware of that and want to avoid it in the future.”
The Deputy Minister added that Australia could still be part of the Commonwealth of Nations, although it is moving towards a new model.
“Of the 54 Commonwealth nations, 34 are Republicans, so Australia is a very small minority,” Thistlethwaite said.
“Last year, Barbados moved to become a republic. They did so in cooperation with the royal family and members of the royal family attended the handover ceremony.
“I want to focus on doing so, in cooperation with the British government, with the royal family, using it as a force that unites Australians around a better future and having one of ours as head of state. “.
The reaction to the appointment of Mr. Thistlethwaite had split.
The Movement of the Republic of Australia (ARM) was delighted that there was now a voice in government advocating a post-monarchy Australia.
“This is the best news for the Australian Republic Movement in almost a quarter of a century,” said ARM President Peter FitzSimons.
“We have the wind in our sails. The weather is perfect. We are on our way.”
However, the Australian Monarchic League said the nation had already voted against becoming a republic and described Thistlethwaite’s appointment as a “clear disrespect” to the Australian people.
Loading
Loading form …
Posted 14 hours 14 hours ago on Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 12:25 AM, updated 9 hours ago on Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 4:35 AM