Voice before a debate on republic: Albanese
AUSTRALIA will not make any effort to become a republic until well after the Indigenous Voice to Parliament has been enshrined, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.
Mr Albanese has made his own views about becoming a republic known in the past but says now is “not the time”, given the passing of Queen Elizabeth.
He’s also shut down talk that the two changes could happen concurrently, given how “very difficult” it is to pass such changes.
“The idea that you would have multiple debates at once I think is not feasible,” Mr Albanese told ABC Radio Sydney on Thursday morning.
He said he had made his priorities clear.
“I want Australians to concentrate on the Voice to Parliament,” he said.
“To me, it is inconceivable that the next change that we need for our constitution is anything other than recognising that our national birth certificate, which is what the Constitution represents, should acknowledge that history didn’t begin in 1788.
“We should be proud of the fact that we share this continent with the oldest continuous culture on earth … That should be something that needs to be fixed before other matters are debated.”
Mr Albanese has not ruled out a referendum on the republic should he win a second term as Prime Minister.
“I’ve been asked a few times about the debate about the monarchy and those issues, this isn’t the time for that,” he told KIIS FM.
“This is the time to pay respect to Queen Elizabeth, to give thanks for her extraordinary service.
“It’s not about our system of government. This is about respect for Queen Elizabeth and her contribution.”
Australia’s republic movement, spearheaded by Peter FitzSimons, has put a pause on campaigning during the official mourning period, but is likely to begin a renewed push for a constitutional change.
Mr Albanese was to travel to London with the GovernorGeneral, their partners, and 10 “everyday Australians” on Thursday afternoon, ahead of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday.
While in the UK, Mr Albanese will have a “one-on-one” audience with King Charles III. He will also meet with new UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.