Australian republic push amid Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Oprah interview

A NSW minister is lobbying support from former PMs for an Australian republic, targeting April for a key fundraiser. Should we become a republic? Take our poll.

Environment Minister Matt Kean is mounting a fresh push for the Australian republican movement, saying Australia needs its own head of state.

It can be revealed Mr Kean has orchestrated approaches to Malcolm Turnbull, Paul Keating and Bob Carr to ­address a fundraiser to reinvigorate the local push for a ­republic.

Mr Kean spoke to the chief of the Australian Republican Movement this morning and is targeting April for the fundraiser.

It comes as premier Gladys Berejiklian has revealed she hasn’t had time to watch Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, stating that she also hasn’t had time to think about whether allegations raised in the interview strengthens calls for Australia to become a republic.

When pressed further on Harry and Meghan’s divorce from the royal family, Ms Berejiklian said:

“I don’t really want to comment on that, to be honest”.

ARM national director Sandy Biar said “consistent with Matt’s calls and an eagerness to become an Australian republic there is a lot of bipartisan support we are seeing”.

“It’s great to see forward thinking, next generation leaders like Matt Kean showing some leadership on this important issue”.

Environment Minister Matt Kean has made moves to reinvigorate the republican movement. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Mr Kean wants to know why Prince Harry can leave the monarchy but we can’t. Picture: Screengrab

Mr Kean confirmed the ­approaches were made before this week’s royal scandal, but he believes the push now has new momentum.

Asked about his position, he said yesterday: “Why is it ­easier for Harry to leave the monarchy than us?”

“This isn’t about whether we like the royals. It’s about us having a head of state in our own country focusing on us and only us.

“We are a great and proud country and we are also old enough and strong enough to stand on our own two feet.

It is believed that Mr Kean has spoken to former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull about the issue. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

“The idea that in 2021 someone would get a position because of their surname ­rather than that they were the best person for the job flies in the face of everything we in Australia are about.”

Mr Kean (pictured above) said he had ­respect for the Queen, but he did not believe a “foreigner” should be Australia’s head of state.

The remarks will anger some in the NSW cabinet who are staunch monarchists. It is understood Mr Turnbull and Mr Carr have indicated they are willing to speak at Mr Kean’s event but he has not ­received a response from Mr Keating, nor has he set a date.

Mr Kean is arranging the event in his capacity as chair of the parliamentary friends of an Australian head of state committee in the NSW parliament

Originally published as Australian republic push amid Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Oprah interview