Anthony Albanese pledges there will be no republic referendum until his second term after Queen’s death

Anthony Albanese has invited King Charles to visit Australia “as soon as possible” – and has clarified his stance on us becoming a republic.

Anthony Albanese says now is not the time to discuss a referendum.

Anthony Albanese, who is a Republican, has invited King Charles III to visit Australia “as soon as possible” as he pledged there would be no referendum on constitutional change until after his first term as Prime Minister.

Rejecting talk of any rush to dump the King as Australia’s head of state, the Prime Minister said out of “deep respect and admiration” for the Queen, he would not “pursue questions about our constitution” unless he was re-elected

In his first international interview since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Mr Albanese told Sky News UK that he will not hold a referendum on whether Australia should become a republic in his first term of government.

“This, of course, is a substantial change. The only monarch that we have known in my lifetime, and in the lifetime of most Australians, has been Queen Elizabeth,’’ he said.

“She was such a respected figure, regardless of where people stand on the political spectrum. That 70 years of public service, that devotion to duty, is something that holds her in such high regard.”

Mr Albanese said he hoped King Charles III and his Queen Consort Camilla would visit Australia “as soon as possible”.

“He’s someone who has a deep relationship with Australia. I hope that he is able to visit here on an occasion as soon as possible,’’ Mr Albanese said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressing the country at Parliament House in Canberra on September 9, 2022, after the passing of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Picture: Handout/Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet/AFP

Anthony Albanese and Minister for Finance Katy Gallagher lay a wreath at the statue of Queen Elizabeth II at the Australian Parliament House. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/Tracey Nearmy

The Prime Minister, his partner Jodie Haydon, the Governor-general David Hurley and his wife Linda will travel to London next Thursday in preparation for attending the state funeral.

King Charles III was officially proclaimed as monarch at a ceremony at Parliament House on Sunday by the Governor-General.

Mr Albanese has also announced a national public holiday to mourn Queen Elizabeth II for Thursday, September 22.

It will provide a four-day weekend for Victorians who already have a public holiday lined up for the AFL grand final.

“It will be a one-off national public holiday to allow people to pay their respects for the passing of Queen Elizabeth,’’ the Prime Minister said.

Australia, Canada and New Zealand and other former colonies of the British Empire are among the 15 current Commonwealth realms including Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and the United Kingdom.

Earlier, Mr Albanese told the ABC’s Insiders program that “now was not a time to talk about our system of government”.

“That’s the system of government that we have, it’s one which as Australian Prime Minister, I have a responsibility to respect,’’ he said.

“Quite clearly, this is a time of national mourning.

At 96, Queen Elizabeth was the oldest current monarch and head of state in the world. Picture: Joe Giddens/Pool/AFP

“Even though the Queen was 96 years of age and had lived such a long life, it still came as a shock. I think that says something about the way that the Queen was perceived as a constant in our lives.”

Mr Albanese also encouraged King Charles to keep talking about climate change, suggesting it did not represent a threat to political neutrality.

“King Charles of course has been very active and outspoken on issues such as the need for the world to challenge climate change and to act on climate change,” Mr Albanese said.

Asked if the monarch should continue to speak out he replied: “In my view that would be appropriate. That’s a matter for him, of course.”

“I think dealing with the challenge of climate change shouldn’t be seen as a political issue, it should be seen as an issue that is about humanity and about our very quality of life and survival as a world,” Mr Albanese said.

“This is a big threat and King Charles has identified that for a long period of time.”

But Liberal leader Peter Dutton said King Charles III needed to put his advocacy “to one side now”.

“As King, I think as the Queen conducted her business, he is there now as an impartial person, takes up that role and they obviously take it very seriously,’’ Mr Dutton said.

A monarchist, Mr Dutton said any talk of Australia becoming a republic would need to be held at another time.

“We need a King as much as we did a Queen, because we have a stability in our system that served us well and I don’t believe in disrupting that,’’ he said.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese pledges there will be no republic referendum until his second term after Queen’s death