Does Australia want the British monarchy?
Description
King Charles’s first visit to Australia since becoming the head of state has reignited the debate over cutting ties with the royals. His tour has been met with fanfare and protest; cheers and heckles — including by Senator Lidia Thorpe in Parliament. So what do Australians think of the monarchy’s role in their country? What would it take to become a republic? Is there still a place for the monarchy in Britain’s former colonies?
On this episode Lucy Hockings speaks to the BBC’s Australia correspondent Katy Watson and Royal correspondent Sean Coughlan.
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Producers: Peter Goffin and Alix Pickles
Sound engineer: Jack Graysmark and Philip Bull
Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas
Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson
United States
Many of us here in Australia definitely don't want a foreign Head Of State. That was also the case for the 1997 referendum, which failed. Not for lack of support for an Australian Republic, but because of a squabble as to how The President should be chosen. Still unresolved, 27 years later. We have King Charles on our currency, it's a national embarrassment. Some haven't woken up that we are an independent country; we do have some royalists, still swooning and toadying to the royal forelocks.