Anthony Albanese was accused of ‘stealth’ in trying to make Australia a republic.
Since the Australian Monarchist League was elected just over a year ago and vowed to hold a referendum on Australia’s constitutional monarchy, the Albanese government has drawn up a list of eight ways to subtly move the country away from the British royal family.
The group’s national chair Philip Benwell said in an email to members, ‘The campaign was not officially announced, but it certainly started the moment Anthony Albanese appointed an assistant minister of the Republic.
Mr Benwell noted that Mr Albanese removed the Queen’s cipher from the gates of Kirribilli House after her death in September 2022 – a move which went unnoticed.
‘He has no intention of replacing it with King [cipher],’ he rode.
The cipher is usually a combination of the king’s name and title woven into the crown.
Anthony Albanese (right) represented Australia at the coronation, pledging loyalty to King Charles III (left) and the monarchy, despite his professed republicanism.
The Australian Monarchist League fears Mr Albanese is taking steps to reduce the sovereign’s role and presence in Australia before any referendum is held.
In February, the government announced that a redesign for the $5 note was in the works. It will respect the culture and history of Indigenous Australians rather than heads of state and will be designed in consultation with First Nations people.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has not yet revealed when the new notes will be introduced.
Prior to this rollout, the $5 note featured a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The other side of the note will be displayed in the Parliament of Australia.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers publicly defended the decision, saying it would be ‘some time’ before the notes were off the production line and into hip pockets.
Mr Benwell also noted that no official coronation coin had been put into circulation in May, although Queen Elizabeth had adopted one when she ascended the throne in 1952.
He told fellow monarchists that the king’s historic coronation ceremony was similarly lacking – with no civilian or military coronation medals, stamps or government-sponsored celebrations.
In February, a new design for the $5 note was announced, honoring the culture and history of Indigenous Australians rather than our head of state. (Image: $5 note with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September)
Newly appointed NSW Premier Chris Minnes opted against lighting the sails of the Sydney Opera House for the coronation as a cost-saving measure, but more than 100 prominent public buildings and monuments were lit purple for the celebration.
And Mr Albanese represented Australia at the coronation, pledging allegiance to King Charles III and the monarchy, despite his professed republicanism.
‘I swear that I will obey your majesty and your heirs and obey the law. So God help me,’ he and other guests said.
After the Archbishop called out ‘God save the King’, officials in the crowd replied: ‘God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. Long live the king.’
Philip Benwell of the Australian Monarchists’ League noted that Mr Albanese removed the Queen’s cipher from the gates of Kirribilli House after her death in September 2022.
‘He has no intention of replacing it with King,’ claims Mr Benwell. (Photo: Kirribilli House gate without royal cipher)
Mr Albanese has indicated he will not try to turn Australia into a republic in his first term as prime minister.
He is already seeking a constitutional change later this year in a referendum seeking an indigenous voice in parliament
But the Australian Monarchists League fears he is taking steps to reduce the role and presence of the sovereign in Australia ahead of any referendum.
‘Our Australian constitution is based on the Crown and we will do everything in our power to ensure it is not removed,’ the group said in a statement to members.
‘It doesn’t matter whether people like or dislike the King, for kings and queens will come and go, but our Constitution and our system of governance will remain forever and should not be tampered with.’
Mr Benwell said the list of changes would ‘continue to grow as the Government tries to remove any public image of the King and Crown before the Republic’s referendum is held.
‘This is not just a blatant campaign of covert republicanism, it is a warning that the Albanese government is moving swiftly and aggressively towards removing the king and governor-general and replacing them with a president of its choice,’ he said.
The email to members also included an appeal for donations to help ‘get ready’ for the fight to protect the role of the monarchy in Australia.
Eight subtle signs Anthony Albanese is turning Australia away from royalty
* He has removed the Queen’s cipher from the gates of Kirribilli House and ‘has no intention of replacing it with the King’s’
* His government blocked the King’s image from Australia’s $5 note
* He ensured that there would be no Coronation Medals, both military and civilian
* Said nothing when NSW Labor Premier Chris Minnes didn’t light up the Opera House and Harbor Bridge for King Charles’ coronation
* There was no official sponsored celebration for the coronation
* There was no coronation coin
* There was no coronation stamp
* There will be no royal birthday stamps
– Claims of the Australian Monarchist League