Rejecting holding talks on becoming a republic with its own head of state, the prime minister said it was a time not for change but instead for paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. Mr Albanese said he would not "pursue questions" of constitutional change unless he was re-elected, out of "deep respect and admiration" for the Queen.
Ruling out holding a referendum in his first term, he told Australia's national broadcaster, ABC, on Friday that "now is not a time to talk about our system of government". "Now is the time for us to pay tribute to the life of Queen Elizabeth; a life well lived, a life of dedication and loyalty, including to the Australian people; and for us to honour and grieve," he said.
"Today's not a day for politics," Mr Albanese said in additional remarks to Radio National, even as citizens of several countries refused to mourn the Queen's passing, with many openly expressing their intentions on social media through memes and jokes.
This story is from the September 12, 2022 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the September 12, 2022 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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