‘No longer a British nation’: Five words signal major change in Australia

Discussions surrounding the future of Australia’s ties to the British monarchy are heating up, but one MP says five words sum up the debate.

Australians will get to have their say on whether they want a republic, as the Albanese government makes plans to tour the nation to discuss the possible referendum.

Assistant Minister for the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite will be meeting with multicultural representatives in Townsville on Tuesday and speaking with Australians about their thoughts on splitting away from the monarchy.

He has previously emphasised that Australia is “no longer a British nation”.

Australia last voted against becoming a republic in 1999 after the majority said they wished to stay under British rule.

While the official listening tour doesn’t begin until early 2023, Mr Thistlethwaite’s office told NCA NewsWire the minister would be starting the conversation early by speaking with a multicultural support group in Townsville on Tuesday.

Representatives from the Indian community, the Townsville Islamic Society, the Central African Republic Association and members from the Ukrainian community are expected to share their thoughts on the referendum.

Matt Thistlethwaite will meet with Townsville residents on Tuesday to hear their views on a republic.

Speaking at a republic event in Melbourne on October 12, Mr Thistlethwaite said it was time for Australians to consider their options when it came to Australia being a republic.

“We are no longer a British nation,” Mr Thistlewaite said.

“We should reflect our unique culture, our unique identify by finally having one of our own as our head of state to represent who we are in modern day Australia.

“We are out of practice when it comes to constitutional reform and it is a long journey that we are now taking.

“The Australia of modern today is a very, very different nation.

“We are a multicultural nation, either 50 per cent of Australians are either born overseas or have a parent overseas.

“We are a nation that is economically linked to the Asia-Pacific region.

“We get our security relationship through ANZUS Alliance with the United States and New Zealand.”

Speaking with the Sydney Morning Herald on October 30, Mr Thistlethwaite said he wanted to speak to people who were unsure which way they’d vote if a referendum was called in the future.

The government has flagged it will work towards launching a republic referendum should it win the next election.

“We’re on a journey to maturing and becoming independent,” Mr Thistlethwaite said.

“The first step is a Voice to Parliament … and the second is an Australian head of state. I’m doing the legwork and work behind the scenes to make sure that second step is a success.

“This consultation is part of that.

“I don’t want to hear from people who are republicans. I want to hear from Australians who are undecided or voted no in 1999, and I want to hear the reason they voted no and what arguments will help them get them across the line.”

Eric Abetz says a republic would be a disaster for Australia. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Australian Monarchist League chairman Eric Abetz told ABC Newson Monday that the listening tour was a “con”.

“This is not a consultation, but a con to the Australian people,” the former Coalition senator said.

“What he’s doing is using Australian taxpayer resources to fund a three-year campaign to try to promote to the Australian people something they don’t want or need.

“The democracy that we have in Australia works exceptionally well. Indeed, in the democracy index of the world, of the top five democracies, four of them are constitutional monarchies. I think that speaks for itself as to how well constitutional monarchies operate.”

The Attorney-General’s Department is expected to run the consultation.