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Dutton defends cost of referendum proposal

Continuing from our last post:

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, was up on Sunrise earlier this morning to defend his referendum proposal – despite his ongoing criticism of the voice referendum as being too expensive.

Dutton said his argument is “if you betray your allegiance to our country in that way you should expect to lose your citizenship”.

The voice … was the wrong issue for the government to put to the people. It could have been dealt with by legislation. The prime minister wouldn’t explain the logic, rationale and impact of the voice. That’s why it went down. What we’re proposing here is a discussion about whether we have adequate laws … whether the constitution is restrictive …

The Sunrise host noted that Australians’ top concern right now is cost-of-living pressures – can the nation afford another referendum? Dutton responded, “absolutely.”

The first issue is to try to keep people safe … In terms of cost of living, of course, that’s our priority economically … If we believe that we want to keep people safe, if you want to keep your kids safe and we want to keep kids safe in our community, I don’t think you can put a price on that.

The opposition leader Peter Dutton.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton. Photograph: Nadir Kinani/AAP
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Monarchists argue King’s image should have been included on $5 note

The Australian Monarchist League (AML) argues that as long as Australia is a constitutional monarchy under the Crown, the monarch should appear on paper currency and coinage.

As Sarah Collard reports, Australia’s $5 note – which has borne the face of Queen Elizabeth II since 1992 – will be redesigned to reflect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s connection to country and the overturning of terra nullius – a foundational moment in the fight for land rights.

The AML has responded to the move in a statement this morning:

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.

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.

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