King Charles III has concluded his historic visit to Australia, marking the first time a reigning British monarch has visited the country in 13 years. The journey, which stirred controversy, has reignited discussions about the role of the monarchy in Australia with anti-monarchists advocating for an Australian citizen to take over as head of state.
During the visit, Indigenous independent senator Lidia Thorpe made headlines by publicly expressing her disapproval, stating that Charles was not her king and Australia was not his land. Esther Anatolitis, co-chair of the Australian Republic Movement, highlighted that while there was a significant turnout to see King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the numbers fell short compared to when Queen Elizabeth II first visited Australia 70 years ago.
Anatolitis stressed the importance of considering a shift towards having an Australian head of state, appointed based on merit rather than by birthright from another country. However, she acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting that amending the constitution to establish an Australian republic would be a demanding task, with Australians last updating their constitution back in 1977.
Despite calls for change, constitutional lawyer Anne Twomey believes that the prospect of an Australian republic may not materialise during Charles’s lifetime. Twomey pointed out the nation’s resistance to constitutional amendments, citing the recent failed referendum on creating an Indigenous representative body as an example of the complexities involved in altering Australia’s constitution.
On the other hand, Philip Benwell, national chair of the Australian Monarchist League, defended the constitutional link to Britain, emphasising the need to preserve Australia’s historical ties. The unexpected verbal confrontation between Senator Thorpe and King Charles III further fuelled the debate, with differing viewpoints on the path towards potentially becoming a republic.
Despite these discussions, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed his desire for Australia to transition into a republic eventually but has deferred a referendum until after his current term. The past referendum in 1999, which endorsed retaining Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, exemplified the challenge of building consensus on the issue of monarchy versus republic.
As the debate continues, experts like Sydney University’s Cindy McCreery suggest that while interest in becoming a republic exists, Australia may not be ready for such a constitutional shift just yet. McCreery emphasised the importance of acknowledging Australia’s intricate history and addressing the complexities surrounding the issue before pursuing a significant constitutional change.
King Charles III’s visit to Australia, amidst health challenges, serves as a critical juncture in the ongoing discussion around the future of the monarchy in the country. While the question of establishing an Australian republic remains unresolved, the visit has reignited passions and spurred dialogue on Australia’s future constitutional direction. King Charles III is set to continue his tour, with his next stop scheduled in Samoa.