Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has firmly put to rest any talk of holding another referendum on turning the country into a republic after his recent meeting with King Charles at Balmoral Castle.
Although Albanese identifies as a republican, he made it clear that his government has more pressing issues to focus on, like tackling the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. When asked whether he raised the issue of removing the King as head of state, he quickly responded, “No, and I think I’ve made it clear that I wanted to hold one referendum while I was Prime Minister, and we did that.”
Albanese was referring to the failed 2023 referendum on the Voice to Parliament, which aimed to create a constitutional body to represent Aboriginal people. Despite his republican views, the Prime Minister acknowledged that the time for another referendum just isn’t right, as there are more urgent matters to address.
When asked about the seeming oddity of meeting the “King of Australia” in Scotland, Albanese was diplomatic, noting that King Charles is “fully aware” of his stance on the issue. However, he also emphasized that he respects the current system of government, saying, “But I also respect the decisions which have been made and our system of Government, and I think that’s important”, reported the Telegraph.
Albanese also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the Royal Family, pointing out that King Charles and Queen Camilla were warmly received during their recent visit to Australia. “Their majesties, when they visited Australia recently, King Charles and Queen Camilla were very well received,” he said. “They work hard. They’re interested in our place in the world. Very interested in the Commonwealth … and I think they are respected.”
Public opinion in Australia remains largely in favor of the monarchy. In a 1999 referendum, 55 percent of voters rejected the idea of becoming a republic, and a 2024 Roy Morgan poll found that 57 percent of Australians still want to remain a constitutional monarchy, with just 43 percent supporting the idea of a republic with an elected president.