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Peter Dutton has claimed republicans are seeking “political advantage from the Queen’s death”, including one Labor minister opening the door to taking the monarch off the $5 note.
The Liberal leader accused the assistant minister for treasury, Andrew Leigh, of “rewriting history” for claiming King Charles III would not “automatically” feature because Queen Elizabeth II appeared on the note due to her “personal” status.
The Australian Republic Movement has suspended campaigning and the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has repeatedly refused to be drawn on the republic or symbols like the $5 note.
But the Queen’s death has sparked calls for Australia to become a republic, including by the Greens leader, Adam Bandt.
Dutton told 2GB radio on Thursday the Queen “hasn’t even been laid to rest yet, and the usual suspects … are out of the block straightaway and I think most Australians would be appalled by that”.
