- Referendum on Australia becoming a republic defeated in 1999
- Green Party leader says Australia needs to ‘move forward’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Sunday that the holiday will take place on Thursday, Sept. 22, to coincide with a national day of memorial for the late queen, who died Sept. 8 after 70 years on the throne. Albanese and Australia’s governor-general, the sovereign’s representative in the country, will fly to London to attend her funeral next Monday, Sept. 19.
Along with Canada, New Zealand and other former colonies of the British Empire, Australia still counts the monarch as itshead of state. A referendum in 1999 to become arepublicwas narrowly defeated, yet the debate has simmered as Australia’s stature as a regional power and globally significant economy has grown.
The queen’s death and King Charles III’s ascension has revived that discussion, with the leader of Australia’sGreensparty, Adam Bandt,tweetingthe day after her death that the country must “move forward” and become a republic. While heavily criticized by other lawmakers as insensitive, a recent poll showed about 54% of the population supported breaking from Britain.
Albanese -- a long-time supporter of Australia becoming a republic -- was quick to deflect when asked about the issue on Sunday, telling the ABC’s Insiders program that “now was not a time to talk about our system of government.”
Former prime minister, John Howard, a monarchist who oversaw the 1999 referendum, told Insiders that Australia’s system of constitutional monarchy was valued by the people and would likely “continue in a different form” under Charles.
Governor-General David Hurley, a former army officer, will proclaim Charles as King of Australia at a ceremony in Canberra Sunday.
The country’s financial markets typically close on public holidays.
