Australia’s Prime Minister has ruled out a referendum on whether the country should become a republic after meeting King Charles at Balmoral Castle.
Anthony Albanese, who describes himself as a republican, said his Government faces more pressing priorities, including the cost-of-living crisis.
“No, and I think I’ve made it clear that I wanted to hold one referendum while I was Prime Minister, and we did that,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation when asked if he had raised the issue of removing the King as head of state.
The remark referred to the failed 2023 referendum on a Voice to Parliament, which would have created a constitutional body to represent Aboriginal people.
Australian Prime Minister rules out talk of republic referendum after King Charles meeting
|REUTERS
Instead of a fresh vote on the monarchy, Mr Albanese said his centre-left Labor Government was “concentrating on cost of living, and on making a real practical difference to people’s lives.”
Asked whether it was odd to travel to Scotland to “visit the King of Australia,” the Prime Minister replied that King Charles was “fully aware” of his republican stance.
He added: “But I also respect the decisions which have been made and our system of Government, and I think that’s important.”
Mr Albanese also paid tribute to the Royal Family when asked about the monarchy’s role in Australia.
King Charles and Anthony Albanese pictured at Balmoral | PA“Their majesties, when they visited Australia recently, King Charles and Queen Camilla were very well received,” he said.
“They work hard. They’re interested in our place in the world. They’re very interested in the Commonwealth … and I think they are respected.”
Public opinion continues to favour the monarchy. A 1999 referendum on becoming a republic was rejected by 55 per cent of voters.
During King Charles’s visit to Australia in October 2024, a Roy Morgan poll found 57 per cent of those surveyed wanted to remain a constitutional monarchy, while 43 per cent preferred a republic with an elected president.
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Before becoming Prime Minister in 2022, Mr Albanese said in 2020 that there was “the need for us to have an Australian head of state…the need for us to stand on our own two feet.”
Since taking office, he has pledged allegiance to King Charles and repeatedly said a republic vote would not be a priority.
Mr Albanese was greeted by bagpipers when he arrived at RAF Lossiemouth on Saturday. He later posted a photograph with King Charles, writing: “An honour to meet with you today, Your Majesty.”
The meeting at Balmoral came a day after he met Sir Keir Starmer and before he is due to address the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.