Republican call to axe monarch from money

The Australian Republic Movement will campaign for the ­removal of the British monarchy on currency.

The Australian Republic Movement will campaign for the ­removal of the British monarchy on currency, as the Albanese government leaves open the option of replacing Queen Elizabeth II on the $5 note with a national icon.

The Australian understands the ARM will call for the late Queen’s image to be removed from the $5 note while also urging the government to reconsider using King Charles III’s image on coins from next year.

The ARM, led by author and former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons, has suspended its campaign for a republic until the end of next week while the nation is mourning the death of the Queen.

But sources involved with the ARM said removing royal representation on currency would be the “first point of order” for the group’s advocacy when it recommences its campaigning.

A member of the ARM told The Australian it was “ridiculous” for the government to already commit to using the King’s image on coins from next year.

The ARM is not expected to immediately propose who should be the Australian-born replacement to the monarch on the back of coins and on the $5 note, with its advocacy likely to be focused on igniting debate on the issue.

Peter FitzSimons. Picture: Mark Wilson

Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh on Thursday said there would be a conversation “down the track” on whether the Queen would be replaced on the $5 note by an Australian.

“It is a conversation that will take place in government. There’s no rush about it,” Dr Leigh said. “The priority now is changing over the coins, which is a much larger operation.

“As I understand, the decision to include the Queen’s face on the $5 note was about her personally rather than about her status as a monarch. So that transition isn’t automatic. We’ll have a sensible conversation within governments and make an appropriate ­announcement in due course.”

Anthony Albanese said he would not consider changes to the $5 note until after her funeral.

“I think this is a time where a bit of respect is required,” the Prime Minister said. “We will deal with these issues appropriately, in an orderly way, in a way that is ­respectful.”

Former Liberal MP Jason ­Falinski, a member of the ARM, said he would not support the group’s push to remove the monarchy from currency before Australia is a republic.

“We are either all in or all out,” Mr Falinski said. “This halfway house of having King Charles as our head of state while pretending he is not our head of state is ridiculous. He is either our head of state or he is not.”

The Queen’s portrait has ­appeared on $5 notes since 1992, after previously appearing on the old $1 note.

On Tuesday, the ARM issued a statement saying it was pausing “all campaigning during the mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II”.

We are deeply saddened by the news of Queen Elizabeth’s passing and express deep gratitude and thanks for her service to the Commonwealth. pic.twitter.com/zesYdxx6zp

— Australian Republic Movement (@AusRepublic) September 8, 2022

Last Friday, after her death was confirmed, Mr FitzSimons said he was “deeply saddened” by the Queen’s passing.

“During her reign, Australia has grown into a mature and independent nation. It is unlikely we will ever see a monarch as respected or admired by the Australian people again” he said.

Mr Albanese has ruled out a referendum on the republic in this term of parliament, with the government prioritising an Indigenous voice to parliament. A Roy Morgan poll released on Tuesday showed 60 per cent of Australians supported maintaining ties to the monarchy.

Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine said the SMS poll of 1012 people showed 66 per cent of women and 54 per cent of men supported retaining the King as Australia’s head of state.

“More Australians have been in favour of remaining as a monarchy than becoming a republic consistently since November 2010,” she said.