Republicans back cost-of-living focus despite delaying referendum push

The Australian Republic Movement has welcomed the Albanese government’s vow to keep cost-of-living as its central focus despite it being the reason Labor has junked plans to hold a referendum.

The Australian Republic Movement says King Charles III does not understand cost-of-living pressures faced by Australians.Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

The Australian Republic Movement has welcomed the Albanese government’s vow to keep cost-of-living as its central focus until the next election, despite it being the reason Labor has junked plans to hold a referendum on the republic in the next term of parliament.

ARM chief executive Isaac ­Jeffrey said tackling cost-of-living was a priority issue, after Assistant Minister for the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite said the government had no plans to hold a referendum if it won the next election.

Mr Thistlethwaite said the government’s focus would be on cost-of-living rather than proposing another change to the Constitution, although a republic ­remained part of Labor’s “longer term” plans.

Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie called for the Assistant Minister for the Republic portfolio to be scrapped.

“The Albanese government is distracted by all the wrong issues,” Mr Hastie said.

“They still have a ministerial portfolio position allocated for the creation of a republic, even after the massive defeat on the Voice and no obvious public support for constitutional change on the crown.”

Responding to Mr Hastie’s call to abolish his portfolio, a spokesman for Mr Thistlethwaite on Sunday said: “While Andrew Hastie can’t seem to focus on his day job as shadow minister for defence, the priority for the Albanese government is helping Australians deal with cost-of-living pressure”.

Assistant Minister for the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Mr Jeffrey said one person who had no idea about the cost-of-living challenges Australians were facing was King Charles III.

“The minister’s (Mr Thistlethwaite) recent comments on the government’s focus on cost of living is welcomed. We agree it’s a priority issue,” Mr Jeffrey said.

“If you want to see an example of someone who doesn’t understand the pressures on Australian household budgets, then look no further than our current head of state.

“King Charles of Australia has numerous palaces, castles, houses and a multi-billion dollar property portfolio – literally born to rule and so far removed from the life of a typical Aussie.”

With Mr Thistlethwaite saying the failure of the Voice made it harder to progress a republic referendum, Mr Jeffrey said the Voice debate was a “completely separate issue” from changing the nation’s head of state.

“The only thing they had in common was the need to be actioned by referendum. ARM has members and supporters who voted for both sides on the Voice,” he said.

Mr Jeffrey claimed the growing public support for a republic would see the issue go to a vote “regardless of which major party is in power”.

Australian Republic Movement chief executive Isaac Jeffrey. Pictured: Supplied

Pro-republican Liberal senator Andrew Bragg. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Moving to distance ARM from Labor, he said the body would work on creating a “people’s model” for the republic.

“ARM will be holding forums throughout Australia from the beaches to the bush, the city to the country, online and in person to develop the Australian people’s model for an Australian republic,” he said.

“We’ll take the time to get it right, then ask the parliament of the day to pass the enabling legislation for the referendum.”

Pro-republican Liberal senator Andrew Bragg said Anthony Albanese’s mishandling of the Voice referendum last year has put back the cause of the republic for a generation.

“No one is going to consider a referendum anytime soon on anything,” Senator Bragg said.

“The last one was handled so appallingly, no one is going to consider a referendum for a long time.

“It was a big thing to have done and a big thing to have done so poorly.”