A year after the Voice referendum, some politicians still haven't read the room

Childish attitudes of premiers underlines Australians' rejection of the Voice and republic

A year after the Voice referendum was defeated by the Australian people, most of us prefer to move on. This comes just as HM King Charles III and Queen Camilla make their first visit to Australia since Charles ascended to the throne in 2022. With the 25th anniversary of the republic referendum approaching, Australians have shown they have no appetite to revisit the constitutional issue.

Recently we’ve been treated to childish antics in the European Parliament by Leftist and liberal parties who wouldn’t vote on a resolution upholding democratic rights in Venezuela. And more childishness when the pompous Craig Foster made public his rejection of a meeting with King Charles. And now, the state premiers. Admittedly there may be understandable reasons for some who won’t be attending, but their behaviour regarding the royal visit reeks of childishness.

It doesn’t help the progressive political class who having given their endorsement to the Voice last year, were soundly defeated by the people on that. And right now, Anthony Albanese is on the rocks as his poll numbers don’t look great. The upcoming state election in Queensland, following the Northern Territory, is bound to give him more headaches.

Have politicians read the room yet? The defeat of the Voice referendum and the lack of enthusiasm for any new constitutional referendum should drive the point home that we’ve endlessly made here. And I’m sure it’s the same in Canada and New Zealand. There’s no desire to drag a nation through a divisive debate when domestic and global challenges are overwhelming. If anything, a global crisis can be used to strengthen our traditional institutions and the bonds they create.

God Save the King.