Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s cabinet reshuffle has dashed hopes of Australia becoming a republic in the near future, with the prime minister admitting he does not want to fight another referendum battle.
As part of his cabinet reshuffle announced on Sunday, Mr Albanese axed the “Minister for the Republic” – the assistant minister for the Republic – and relocated former Assistant Minister for the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite to a different portfolio.
Crushing the spirit of republicans across Australia, Mr Albanese announced on Sunday that he would not hold a referendum on Australia becoming a republic.
Mr Albanese defended his decision to scrap the Republican ministerial role, which he created after his 2022 election.
“Before I was elected Prime Minister I said I intended to hold a referendum. That’s the only thing I committed to.”
Mr Albanese was referring to the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.
This was a constitutional referendum held on 14 October 2023 on a proposed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
The Australian people rejected by a majority of 60 percent the proposal to amend the constitution to create a Voice of Parliament representing indigenous communities.
The cabinet reshuffle announced on Sunday by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has crushed hopes of a republic in Australia, with the Prime Minister admitting he did not want to endure another referendum (pictured during the Voice’s referendum campaign last year).
King Charles (pictured left with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) will visit Australia with Queen Camilla in October.
The Voice referendum, which was defeated in every state and territory except the ACT, cost the Australian taxpayer around $450 million.
On holding future referendums, Mr Albanese said: “Previously, Labour went into elections committing to holding multiple referendums.”
‘At the moment, the only person who is committed to another referendum during the next term if elected is Peter Dutton.’
The Prime Minister is a staunch republican and throughout his public life he has made no secret of his dream of Australia becoming a republic.
Mr Albanese has previously said he would not be a leader who “chairs only constitutional debates”.
Mr Thistlethwaite was appointed as a Deputy Minister for the Republic on 1 June 2022.
As part of his cabinet reshuffle announced on Sunday, Mr Albanese has abolished the Assistant Minister of the Republic, relocating former Assistant Minister of the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite (pictured) to a different portfolio.
As part of Sunday’s cabinet reshuffle, he will now serve as assistant minister to Tony Burke for immigration, citizenship and multicultural affairs.
Australians already voted against becoming a republic in 1999, when a referendum registered 54 percent against.
The Queen’s death and the infighting between Princes William and Harry have raised new hopes among anti-monarchists that things might change once again.
And Mr Albanese’s decision to appoint a Deputy Prime Minister for the Republic after his election in 2022 was seen as a promising development.
Mr Albanese swore allegiance to King Charles at his coronation in May last year following the Queen’s death, and despite being a “lifelong republican”, he insisted he has “great respect” for the King.
At the time, Mr Albanese assured members of the public, both in Australia and abroad, that a referendum on whether Australia should become a republic was out of the question in the near future.
In a further blow to Republicans, it was confirmed earlier this month that King Charles III and Queen Camilla will travel to Australia later this year.
He had visited the country 15 times previously and in 1966 spent time at a school in Victoria.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said planning for the visit was well advanced.
“I am honoured to welcome the King and Queen on their first royal visit to Australia later this year – they are always welcome visitors,” he said.
“The King has a deep respect for our great nation and has always spoken glowingly of his time here and the astonishing beauty of our extraordinary continent. I look forward to welcoming the King and Queen back to Australia for this important visit.”
Charles, 75, who is undergoing cancer treatment, and his wife, 76, will visit Canberra and New South Wales in October.
It will be Charles’ first visit to Australia since becoming king and the first by a reigning monarch since 2011, when Queen Elizabeth II travelled to Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.