‘Part of plan for a republic’: Monarchists slam removal of King on $5 note

The Australian Monarchist League has slammed the announcement of the new theme for the note, with the RBA Bank confirming King Charles won’t feature.

The RBA said the theme of the new note is “Connection to Country”.

But the AML said it “firmly believes that as long as Australia is a constitutional monarchy established under the Crown, the facsimile of the monarch should appear on our paper currency as well as on our coinage”.

“The decision to remove the King’s image from Australia’s five-dollar note was a part of the Albanese government’s plan for a republic thwarted only by their devastating defeat over the Voice referendum which we always knew was a precursor to a referendum on a republic,” it said in a statement.

“The continuation of the Albanese government’s republicanism by stealth is an indication that we could well face a move towards a republic if the public allows Albanese a second term, especially in partnership with the Greens.”

It said it wanted to see the Coalition voted out in the upcoming election, accusing them of being “republican cohorts.”

The final design for the new note has not yet been revealed.

“We won’t be putting a portrait on the $5 note this time. We want to try something new,” RBA Bank said.

“We want to look at what’s shaped us and what’s helped us grow.”

It said the chosen theme will “guide the creation of an artwork to celebrate and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures on the new $5 note.”

The theme was chosen after more than 2100 submissions were made by the public.