Australia could soon ditch Queen Elizabeth II under the Anthony Albanese government
Queen Elizabeth II could soon be removed as Australia's Head of State, according to the Australian Labor Party.
Labor is set to renew a push for the land Down Under to become a republic, which would end the nation's Commonwealth rule of more than 120 years.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has previously stated that he would like to see the nation become a republic, describing Australia splitting from the monarchy as 'inevitable'.
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Albanese's new Assistant Minister for the Republic, Matt Thistlethwaite, has revealed that the federal government will hold talks about extricating itself from the Commonwealth.
"The priority is the Voice to Parliament, but we're hopeful to achieve that in the first term," he told Daily Mail Australia.
"The next logical step is to become a republic.
"As the Queen approaches the twilight of her reign, we think it's time to bring it forward."
Labor powerbrokers hope the discussions will lead to change in Albanese's second or third term of government.
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According to polling conducted by the Australian Republic Movement, 73 per cent of respondents would vote to leave if a referendum were held on making Australia a republic.
Those are solid numbers when compared with the last referendum on the issue that was held in Australia 23 years ago.
A majority of 54.87 per cent answered 'no' to ditching the Queen.
A close-but-not-quite 45.13 per cent answered 'yes', so Queen Elizabeth II's reign as head of state continued.
So move over Brexit...it's now all about Ausxit.
Thistlethwaite said that it is time for Australia to split as the nation has its own 'unique identity' and 'values'.
He admitted to Daily Mail Australia that the biggest challenge the push for a republic faces is Aussies being reluctant to change.
"There's no doubt there's an affinity for the Queen and Royal Family, but the Queen herself has said it's a decision for our people, and she's right," he said.
"I think that many Australians now believe that the time is right," Thistlethwaite added, as per A Current Affair.
Albanese has been calling for a referendum for years and declined to swear an oath to the Queen when he was sworn in as the nation's 31st Prime Minister in May.
In June, the Prime Minister doubled down, stating that splitting from the Commonwealth is inevitable.
As he marked Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne, he added that Australia's relationship with the UK and the Queen 'is no longer what it was at the dawn of her reign', as per AP.
Topics: Australia, News, Politics, Royal Family, The Queen
Rachel Lang