Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to 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?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much and, if I may while I'm on my feet, welcome to our friends from Vietnam. You're very welcome in Australia. We're not always like this—well, actually, in question time we are!—but we value very much the friendship with your country.

Senator Faruqi, I think the position of the Labor Party is well known on this, and our support for a republic is well known. We also have been very clear that that is not something that is a first-order priority for the government in this term. I refer you to the Prime Minister's comments.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, first supplementary?

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

Prime Minister Albanese has been a long-term advocate for an Australian republic and just last week said that an Australian republic is common sense. If that is the case, why did your government get rid of the role of assistant minister for the republic?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll refer you to my primary answer.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Faruqi, second supplementary?

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

Minister, people in this country are deeply, deeply uncomfortable about Andrew Mountbatten being in the line of succession. I hope you are aware of that. When is your government going to move to a republic so that there is not even a remote possibility of this happening?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think really, again, I refer you to my primary answer.