Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Minister, more than two centuries since the violent colonisation of First Nations land, we still remain subjects of a British head of state. The monarchy has hit headlines again in recent weeks over disgraced former prince Andrew's relationship with child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A majority of Australians want him removed from the line of succession, and 43 per cent of Australians indicated their support for a republic—the highest ever. Your government's former attorney-general, Mark Dreyfus, said last week that it is past time for Australia to break its ties with the monarchy and encouraged you all to renew the republic campaign. Will the government acknowledge the surge in public support for a republic and take steps to cut ties and apron strings with the British monarchy?