King Charles III visited Australia expressing his love for the country, but there are growing questions about whether Australia should become a republic and cut ties with the British monarchy. Despite a referendum in 1999 where Australians voted against becoming a republic, the debate has been revived. Prime Minister Albanese has expressed openness to another vote but stated it is not a priority. The royal visit has faced some controversy, with the absence of state premiers at the welcome event being criticized by some as a snub. While the Australian Monarchist League is distributing flags, the Australian Republic Movement launched a campaign calling the visit “The Farewell Oz Tour.” The group had requested a meeting with Charles, but his assistant private secretary declined on behalf of the king. Despite potential mixed reception, Charles’ commitment to visiting Australia while undergoing cancer treatment shows his dedication to the Commonwealth. Public opinion on becoming a republic in Australia is divided, with support for the constitutional monarchy remaining strong. Australia could potentially follow Barbados in becoming a republic, as the debate continues. Charles aims to highlight climate change at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting during his visit to Samoa.
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