Frantic letter sent to royals after $5 note change

A last-minute letter was sent to Buckingham Palace after the Reserve Bank dropped the news it would scrap the monarch from the $5 note.

The monarch will be replaced on the $5 note, eventually. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

A decision to scrap the monarch from the $5 note was not run by the King’s representative in Canberra before it was publicly announced.

Paul Singer, the Governor-General’s secretary, told a senate estimates hearing on Monday that he was surprised that Government House was not told of the change ahead of time.

“The first I became aware of the decision was the media release from the Reserve Bank,” he said.

Earlier this month, the RBA confirmed that King Charles III would not replace his mother on the Australian $5 note.

A design honouring the culture and history of First Australians will instead feature on the pink note.

The monarch will no longer feature on the $5 note. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Mr Singer penned a letter to his counterpart at Buckingham Palace that afternoon with a copy of the media release.

“So to ensure they didn’t wake up to the news not having been forewarned,” he added.

Asked about the Governor-General’s response, Mr Singer declined to speak for him but did say David Hurley “probably shared my surprise”.

“We were only made aware of the decision as a consequence of reading the media statement,” the secretary said.

Liberal senator Dean Smith quizzed Mr Singer if he would describe the lack of consultation as “a gross lack of courtesy”.

“That’s for others to comment,” Mr Singer responded.

The design of the updated fiver is not expected to be finalised for years.

It means bank notes featuring the portrait of Queen Elizabeth will continue to be issued and legal tender for some time.

Although he’s been cut off the pink note, King Charles’ effigy will feature on Australian coins from the second half of the year.

Originally published as Frantic letter sent to royals after $5 note change