Republicans waste no time in stirring debate

Calls for Australia to ‘reflect’ on the role of the monarchy and ‘move forwards’ towards becoming a republic have been made mere hours after the Queen’s death.

Greens leader Adam Bandt was quick to call on Australia to become a republic. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Calls for Australia to “reflect” on the role of the monarchy and “move forwards” towards becoming a republic have been made mere hours after the Queen’s death, with the Australian Republic Movement saying it’s unlikely there would be another monarch who would be so respected.

Greens leader Adam Bandt was quick to call on Australia to become a republic. “Rest in Peace Queen Elizabeth II,” he tweeted shortly after the announcement she had died. “Now Australia must move forward. We need Treaty with First Nations people, and we need to ­become a Republic.”

The ARM was more restrained but pointed out the Queen had backed the right for Australia to become independent.

“The Queen backed the right of Australians to become a fully independent nation during the referendum on an Australian republic in 1999, saying she had ‘always made it clear that the future of the monarchy in Australia is an issue for the Australian people and them alone to decide, by democratic and constitutional means’,” the ARM said.

The referendum failed, with a No vote of about 55 per cent.

ARM chair Peter FitzSimons expressed his sympathies and gratitude to the Queen and said there would never be another monarch like her. “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,” Mr FitzSimons said.

Monash University constitutional law expert Luke Beck said the Queen’s death was the first time in 70 years Australia would see a change in monarch.

“We’ve had in the past lots of commentary from politicians and others that the time to talk about a republic is after the death of the Queen. Well, we’re here now.”

Former prime minister and republican Malcolm Turnbull said it was “too early” to say whether the death of the Queen would have an impact on such a process. Kevin Rudd, another republican and ex-prime minister, said ­regardless of people’s politics, everyone had an “affection” towards the “nana” figure to the Commonwealth.

Australian Monarchist League national chair Philip Benwell said Australia’s new King had trained for this role “his entire life” and would unequivocally continue the “longstanding traditions” epitomised by the Queen.

Anthony Albanese refused to weigh in on the issue of a republic and said such a debate was not ­appropriate in the near term. “Today is not a day for politics. Today’s a day to pay tribute to the service of Queen Elizabeth as our head of state over those 70 years and to give thanks to her dedication and to her contribution to Australia,” he told the ABC.

Labor has put a debate about the monarchy on the agenda. However, it has made clear a referendum on an Indigenous voice will come first.