Premiers including Jacinta Allan decline invite to meet with King Charles III
State premiers including Jacinta Allan have turned down an invitation to meet with King Charles III during his visit to Australia, with the rejection labelled “a slap in the face”.
Victoria
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Premier Jacinta Allan has declined an invitation to meet with King Charles when he visits Australia this week.
She has turned down the opportunity to welcome him and wife Camilla at a reception in Canberra next Monday, prompting claims she is snubbing the royals.
The Sunday Herald Sun can report that not one premier will be at the reception.
Ms Allan, who has parliament this week, said she had a cabinet meeting next Monday.
Australian Monarchists League Victorian spokesman Bev McArthur slammed the decision as an “embarrassing” snub, and the nationwide rejection a “slap in the face” to the royal family.
“All premiers and ministers have sworn allegiance to our monarch, Charles III, and it is a monumental insult that they now spit in his hand extended in friendship,” she said.
“This is a historic opportunity to unite Australia, to focus on charitable work and to give back to communities. Yet our immature politicians are clearly choosing to play politics.”
King Charles will address an event attended by political and community leaders, and prominent Australians who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in fields including health, the arts, culture and sport.
NSW Premier Chris Minns cannot attend because of a cabinet meeting, Queensland Premier Steven Miles is occupied with his election campaign, and Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff is on a US trade mission.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has a regional cabinet meeting, while a spokesman for Western Australia’s Premier, Roger Cook, said he had “other commitments”.
It is understood, however, that Mr Minns will attend several events with the King during his visit.
Victoria’s Deputy Premier, Ben Carroll, is also unable to attend the reception, leaving Ms Allan’s parliamentary secretary, Nick Staikos, to take her place.
“On behalf of Victoria, the Governor of Victoria her excellency Professor the honourable Margaret Gardner AC and parliamentary secretary Nick Staikos MP formally representing Premier Jacinta Allan will attend the parliamentary reception for His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla in Canberra on Monday,” a government spokesman said.
Opposition spokesman Brad Rowswell wrote to Ms Allan in May urging her not to downplay the King’s visit.
“Sometimes, leadership requires putting personal prejudice aside in the interests of the greater good,” Mr Rowswell said on Saturday.
“Premier Allan represents a state that wholeheartedly embraces and supports King Charles as our head of state.
“Sending a junior Labor MP to represent the Premier on this occasion doesn’t pass the Pimm’s test.
“The decent and respectful thing to do would be to jump on a plane and give King Charles a warm Victorian welcome, or is she just too embarrassed to do so after her Commonwealth Games debacle?”
This week’s visit will be King Charles’ first visit to a Commonwealth realm since he ascended to the throne.
The 75-year-old is due to arrive in Australia on Friday before engagements in Sydney and Canberra.
It will be his 17th visit to Australia.
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