$5 note removal by RBA sparks outrage by monarchists, welcomed by republicans

While republicans have welcomed news the new design for a $5 removes King Charles III, monarchists are concerned about republicanism by stealth. Have your say.

Australian monarchists have reacted with outrage to news King Charles III is being dumped from the $5 note, saying “it’s a smack in the face” for democracy.

The Australian Monarchist League slammed the surprise decision by the Reserve Bank as an attempt at “republicanism by stealth” while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton described it as “woke nonsense”, warning the national anthem and flag were next.

But the new boss of the republican movement Craig Foster welcomed the revamp of the $5 note, saying: “Australia believes in meritocracy so the idea that someone should be on our currency by birthright is irreconcilable as is the notion that they should be our head of state by birthright.”

The decision will see a new design that “honours the culture and history of First Australians” replace the monarch.

The monarchist league’s national chairman Philip Benwell said Australians had already been asked about having a republic 22 years ago and decided to retain constitutional monarchy and the sovereign as head of state.

Philip Benwell, national chairman of the Australian Monarchist League, is concerned about abandoning the traditional image of the sovereign on the $5 note.

“To do something like that, is virtually republicanism by stealth, while the King is still sovereign of this country – it’s before the people have had their say in a referendum,” he said.

“They are looking at dumping the King before going to the people.

Craig Foster, the 2022 NSW Australian of the Year and head of the Australian Republican Movement, welcomes a new design. Picture: Salty Dingo 2022

“If this is the sort of government Anthony Albanese is leading then heaven help Australia.

“Anthony Albanese particularly took the matter of a republic off the agenda before the last election and therefore he has no mandate to do what he’s doing.

“It’s not much to have the sovereign on the lowest denomination note.

“The bank said they’ve consulted … and who did they consult – the government … Where are the people in all this?”

Staunch monarchist Professor David Flint believes the public will see through the government’s republic agenda

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said it was “another attack on our power systems in our society and our institutions”.

He said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would have been central to the decision and should “own up to it”.

“I know the silent majority don’t agree with a lot of the woke nonsense that goes on but we … hear more from those people online and business leaders have to speak up against it,” he told 2GB’s Ray Hadley.

“I think it’s another attack on our systems, our society and our institutions.

“There’s significant attacks on Australia Day, people want to change that.

“Then there will be an attack on the national anthem, the flag, the name of Australia as we’re seeing in other parts of the world,” he said.

The Australian Republic Movement welcomed the move.

Australian Republic Movement chairman Craig Foster called the change “an important symbolic step, “especially given First Nations Australians had been here more than 65,000 years before British settlement and the now accepted schism between the monarchy and contemporary Australia”.

“The idea that someone should be on our currency by birthright is absurd as the notion that they should be our head of state by birthright,” Mr Foster said.

Portrait of King Charles III on British currency. Picture: AFP

He said the RBA decision recognised our “contemporary identity, history and the important place of First Nations Australians in our national story”.

“Our contemporary identity is one starting to walk in truth with First Nations and confidently alone, in our multicultural demography.

“This decision by the RBA is a natural consequence of recognising the important place of First Nations Australians in our national story.

“Australians deserve to see themselves, and only themselves reflected in our Constitution, our system of government and all National symbols including our currency.

Australians for Constitutional Monarchy’s David Flint said decision went against the “clear wish of the Australian people”.

“The Albanese government is engaging in a forlorn and futile attempt to clear the path for a politicians‘ republic by engaging in creeping republicanism,” Mr Flint said.

“It will do them no good. Australians will see through this.

“The polls are such that even with a favourable question, a second referendum for a politicians’ republic is doomed.

“The Albanese government is behaving as if the people have already decided to turn Australia into a politicians’ republic.

“They have not.”