Anthony Albanese’s decades-long dream of Australia breaking away from the monarchy and becoming a republic is on the brink.
Infighting within the Australian Republican Movement arises in the wake of revelations that the post of Deputy Minister for the Republic will be eliminated in a future cabinet reshuffle.
The rancor comes after Peter FitzSimons resigned as president of the organization after seven years at the helm, following the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022.
Now, former Olympian Nova Peris resigned from her role as ARM co-chair this week following a public statement by her colleague, Craig Foster, against Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Gaza.
“Given our different leadership styles and our different visions on how to promote dialogue, reconciliation and social cohesion, it is unsustainable for me to continue alongside Craig as co-chair of ARM and I will step down,” Ms Peris said. SMH.
Anthony Albanese’s decades-long dream of Australia breaking away from the monarchy and becoming a republic is on the brink.
Foster wished Peris well, but said “there can be no silence when we all have a duty to protect other human beings.”
The prime minister has made no secret during his time in public life of his dream of Australia becoming a republic.
But any hope of holding a referendum on the issue in the short term was dashed with the crushing defeat of the Indigenous Voice in Parliament.
“Referendums are quite difficult,” the prime minister said recently, referring to his other desire to extend the length of the federal government’s term from three to four years.
Doing so would also require a referendum.
The Voice referendum, which was defeated in every state and territory except the ACT, cost the Australian taxpayer around $450 million.
Former Olympian Nova Peris resigned as ARM co-chair this week following a public statement by her colleague, Craig Foster, against Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Gaza.
Australians already voted against becoming a republic, back in 1999, when the referendum got 54 percent against.
The Queen’s death and infighting between Princes William and Harry sparked renewed hope among anti-monarchists that the tide could turn again.
And Albanese’s decision to appoint a Deputy Minister for the Republic upon his election in 2022 was seen as a promising step forward.
Daily Mail Australia reported earlier this week that Thistlethwaite’s job could be in jeopardy ahead of any cabinet reshuffle in the summer or winter.
A source close to the Prime Minister said the Albanian government is trying to distance itself from any “woke” political issues – including Australia becoming a republic – following the budget.
Albanese swore allegiance to King Charles at his coronation in May following the queen’s death and, despite being a “lifelong republican”, insisted he has “great respect” for the king.
Albanese is understood to have not been particularly impressed with Thistlethwaite’s selling of a republican referendum and does not want to be accused of being a distraction from more important economic challenges.
Thistlethwaite, who is a member of the powerful New South Wales right-wing faction, will not abandon his leadership entirely. He is also assistant minister for Veterans Affairs and Defense, a position he will likely retain in the event of any reshuffle.
Albanese swore allegiance to King Charles at his coronation in May following the queen’s death and, despite being a “lifelong republican”, insisted he has “great respect” for the king.
And he assured the public both in Australia and abroad that a referendum on whether Australia should become a republic is out of the question in the near future.
“What I don’t want is to be a prime minister presiding over fair constitutional debates,” he said at the time.
Thistlethwaite acknowledged in November 2023, just weeks after the Voice vote, that there was no referendum on the horizon for the party.
“It is on our platform that we begin a discussion with the Australian people about the possibility of having one of our own as head of state at some point in the future,” he said.
“Now is not the right time for that.”
He said Labor “has a long-term vision for Australia as a mature, independent nation” and still has ambitions for the country to sever ties with King Charles III and Queen Camilla.