Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s cabinet reshuffle has dashed hopes of Australia becoming a republic any time soon, with the prime minister admitting he has no desire to fight another referendum battle.
As part of the cabinet reshuffle announced on Sunday, Albanese scrapped the ‘Minister for the Republic’, the assistant ministry for the Republic, and transferred the former assistant minister for the Republic, Matt Thistlethwaite, to a different portfolio.
Mr Albanese announced on Sunday that he will not hold a referendum on Australia becoming a republic, crushing the republican spirit across Australia.
Mr Albanese defended his decision to abolish the Republican ministerial post, which he created after his election in 2022.
‘I said before I was elected prime minister that I intended to have one referendum. It is the only thing I have committed to.’
Mr Albanese referred to the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.
This was a constitutional referendum held on 14 October 2023 for a proposed vote for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
The Australian people rejected the proposal to amend the Constitution and establish a parliamentary commission representing Indigenous communities with a majority of 60 percent.
The cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) on Sunday has dashed Australia’s hopes of a republic, with the prime minister admitting he did not want another referendum (pictured during last year’s Voice referendum campaign)
King Charles (pictured left with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) will visit Australia with Queen Camilla in October
The Voice referendum, which was rejected in all states and territories except the ACT, cost the Australian taxpayer approximately $450 million.
On holding future referendums, Mr Albanese said: ‘In the past, the Labour Party went to elections promising more referendums.’
‘At this point, Peter Dutton is the only person committed to holding another referendum in the next term, if he is elected.’
The Prime Minister is a staunch republican and has never made a secret in public life of his dream of making Australia a republic.
Mr Albanese said earlier that he would not be a leader who “just chairs debates on the constitution”.
Mr Thistlethwaite was appointed Assistant Minister for the Republic on 1 June 2022.
As part of the cabinet reshuffle announced on Sunday, Albanese scrapped the Assistant Ministry for the Republic and moved former Assistant Minister for the Republic, Matt Thistlethwaite (pictured), to a different portfolio.
As part of Sunday’s cabinet reshuffle, he will become an assistant minister to Tony Burke and will handle immigration, citizenship and multicultural affairs.
Australians have already voted against the republic, in 1999, when 54 percent of Australians voted against it.
The death of the Queen and the infighting between Prince William and Prince Harry gave anti-monarchists renewed hope that the tide could turn.
And Mr Albanese’s decision to appoint an assistant minister for the Republic after his election in 2022 was seen as a promising step forward.
Mr Albanese swore allegiance to King Charles at his coronation in May last year, following the Queen’s death. Despite being a “lifelong republican”, he stressed that he had “huge respect” for the king.
Mr Albanese assured the public in Australia and internationally at the time that a referendum on whether Australia should become a republic was not feasible in the near future.
In a further setback for Republicans, it was confirmed earlier this month that King Charles III and Queen Camilla will travel to Australia later this year.
He had previously visited the city fifteen times and spent time at a school in Victoria in 1966.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said planning for the visit is well underway.
“I am honoured to welcome the King and Queen on their first royal visit to Australia later this year. They are always welcome guests,” he said.
“The King has a deep respect for our great nation and has always spoken warmly of the time he has spent 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 76-year-old wife will visit Canberra and New South Wales in October.
It is the first time Charles has visited Australia since becoming king and the first time a reigning monarch has visited Australia since 2011, when Queen Elizabeth II visited Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.