Australia's priority is to hold a referendum on the political rights of indigenous peoples, not to replace the monarchy with a republic, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday (September 15th).
Although the leader of the centre-left Labor Party is a staunch Republican, he refused to engage in this debate days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Australia, a member of the Commonwealth, is a constitutional monarchy with the sovereign of the United Kingdom as head of state.
Read also“Albo”, Sydney HLMs at the head of Australia
Anthony Albanese said he is focusing on a referendum plan to give Indigenous peoples, who number some 670,000 in Australia, less than 3% of the population, the right to be consulted by MPs on issues that affect them .
A process called “
Voice to Parliament
”.
“
I want Australians to focus on the Voice to Parliament
,” he told
ABC
, the national radio, when asked why the country could not also consider its future under the monarchy. .
“
We should be proud to share this continent with the oldest uninterrupted culture on earth, at least 65,000 years old
,” argued Anthony Albanese, elected in May for a first three-year term.
“
This is something that should be settled before other issues are debated
,” he added.
A British colony for over a century, Australia gained independence in 1901 but retained the monarch as head of state.
Australians in favor of a republic
In 1999, Australians voted narrowly against impeachment of the Queen.
Polls taken before the death of Elizabeth II showed that most Australians favored the establishment of a republic.
The Republican question has been reignited since the rise to power of Anthony Albanese, who quickly appointed the country's first "
Delegate Minister for the Republic
" and suggested that another referendum could be held in the future.
“
Getting constitutional change in this country is very difficult
,” explained Anthony Albanese, recalling the 1999 vote. “
The idea that you have several debates at the same time is, I think, not feasible and I have clearly stated my priorities
,” he continued.