The Australian government appears to have shelved plans for an imminent referendum on the country becoming a republic, which was expected in early 2025.
An Australian government spokesperson has told GB News: “The current priority for the Albanese Labor Government is helping Australians deal with cost-of-living pressure.”
"We support the vision for an Australian Republic and maintain a long-term vision for Australia as a mature, independent nation."
They added: "We believe that every individual in our society, regardless of their background, birthplace, gender, or religion, should have the opportunity to aspire to be our nation's head of state.”
The decision will likely be seen as a boost to The King, who is rumoured to be visiting the country in the autumn with Queen Camilla.
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The decision will likely be seen as a boost to The King, who is rumoured to be visiting the country in the autumn with Queen Camilla.
Buckingham Palace has not confirmed any plans.
In October, the Labor Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, suffered a humiliating defeat when he failed in his attempt to reform the Australian constitution and make it easier for Aboriginal people to have their voices heard in Parliament.
The Times reports insiders have been "privately warning that Albanese could not risk investing more of his time advocating for another failed referendum."
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Buckingham Palace has not confirmed any plans of a tour to Australia.
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Yesterday, Assistant Minister for the Republic, Matt Thistlethwaite MP, said: “Our priority is the cost of living pressure for Australians, and all of our policies have been directed at assisting Australians to get through that difficult period”
“Having said that longer term, it's part of the Labor platform that we believe that we should have an Australian as our head of state.
“The current method of selecting our head of state is undemocratic. It doesn't represent modern Australian values, and that's something that we want to begin a discussion with Australians on in the longer term.”
On the first anniversary of King Charles ascending the throne, a YouGov poll showed a small majority of Australians (35 percent) wished for the country to retain their constitutional monarchy.
But Australians wanting the country to become a republic were only three percentage points behind (32 percent).
