Now is not the time to talk about the Elizabeth Line

Save for a few outliers, the Queen’s death has been an apolitical affair in Australia.

Republicans mostly have been steadfast in their restraint, and those who haven’t have been shot down quickly.

The Elizabeth Line in London.Credit: David Levenson/Bloomberg

The Australian Republican Movement has paused all campaigning during the official mourning period, right at the moment Australians’ minds are focused on the transfer of regal power.

Now is not the time to talk about our constitutional arrangements, we’re told.

Now is not the time to talk about the chequered history of British colonialism in Australia.

Now is not the time to talk about our flag, or our currency.

Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a republican, bristled at a question on Tuesday about who might replace the Queen on Australia’s $5 note.

“I’m speaking about a funeral that will take place of Queen Elizabeth II next Monday and I’m being asked a question about her replacement on the $5 note,” he said. “I think this is a time where a bit of respect is required.”

A bit of respect, indeed. If only all sides of politics were so dignified.

It was more than a little ironic that the most brazen politicisation of the Queen’s death would be spearheaded by one of the crown’s most ardent defenders.

The Queensland LNP launched a petition on Wednesday to rename Cross River Rail the Elizabeth Line, in tribute to the dearly departed monarch.

It was a co-ordinated effort.

The elizabethline.com.au website was registered on Tuesday and Brisbane’s News Corp newspaper ran the headline on Wednesday. An LNP blitz of breakfast television ensued.

The site was registered by Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie.

A proud and vocal monarchist, it was Bleijie who, as attorney-general, ensured the Queen’s name would feature on Brisbane’s new court complex on George Street (George Street, of course, being named for the Queen’s ancestor, ensuring the royal family a near-monopoly on inner-city tributes).

If the opposition gets its way, a Brisbane commuter could catch the Elizabeth Line (one) to Albert Street Station (two), cross Charlotte (three), Elizabeth (four), Queen (five) and Adelaide (six) streets, walk across King George Square (seven) to turn left at Ann Street (eight), before turning right on to George Street (nine) to make their appointment at the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law (10).

That’s a lot of tributes to one family within a 750-metre walk.

The opposition has rejected any notion it’s a political move. Opposition Leader David Crisafulli rightly pointed out on Wednesday morning the petition page was bereft of political branding.

But it was also bereft of a privacy statement, something on which Labor rightly seized as the government accused the LNP of using the Queen’s death to harvest data.

“The death of the sovereign should not be used as an opportunity by a political organisation, like the LNP, to gather data for a political database,” Treasurer Cameron Dick said.

On face value, the criticism was valid.

Questions were asked of the state opposition early Wednesday morning as to whether the emails and phone numbers entered into the petition would be kept by the LNP.

As of publication, those questions remained unanswered.

That’s not to suggest nefarious intent.

Bleijie’s love for the monarchy, after all, is beyond question. At best, the lack of information on what would be done with petitioners’ data could be considered the consequence of a rushed process.

But it has been rushed for one reason — to seize the moment. That is the very definition of political opportunism.

There was no need to rush this. Cross River Rail is still years from opening.

As much as Crisafulli denies playing politics with the issue, that is exactly what the LNP is doing.

In the midst of the mourning period, no less.

Never mind the fact the Elizabeth Line has already been done, if now is not the time to discuss Australia’s constitution, now is not the time to discuss the renaming of a $5.4 billion piece of infrastructure.

Show some respect.

The author is a member of the Australian Republican Movement.