King Charles is snubbed by Aussie politicians ahead of his visit Down Under: ‘A slap in the face’
One state won’t be sending anybody from a senior parliamentary leadership position to welcome King Charles III on his first visit to Australia as monarch.
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan and even deputy premier Ben Carroll won’t be attending the King’s welcome event in Canberra on Monday October 21.
Ms Allan’s parliamentary secretary Nick Staikos and state Governor Margaret Gardner, an avowed republican, will represent Victoria at the event.
However, Ms Allan, who said she will be attending a cabinet meeting on the day, isn’t alone among state leaders snubbing the event as it is understood no premiers plan to attend.
Australian Monarchists League Victorian spokesman Bev McArthur called this apparent snub a ‘slap in the face’ to the royal family.
‘All premiers and ministers have sworn allegiance to our monarch, Charles III, and it is a monumental insult that they now spit in his hand extended in friendship,’ she told the Herald Sun.
‘This is a historic opportunity to unite Australia, to focus on charitable work and to give back to communities. Yet our immature politicians are clearly choosing to play politics.’
Opposition spokesman Brad Rowswell said he wrote to Ms Allan in May urging her not to downplay the King’s visit.
King Charles III (pictured left) and Queen Camilla pose for their official Australian visit portrait
‘Sometimes, leadership requires putting personal prejudice aside in the interests of the greater good,’ Mr Rowswell said on Saturday.
Victoria last year stunningly reneged on its commitment to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, despite having to pick up a hefty tag to have the event hosted in Glasgow.
NSW premier Chris Minns said he cannot attend the Canberra welcoming also because of a cabinet meeting but he reportedly will attend other events with the King.
Queensland premier Steven Miles said he will be busy campaigning for re-election campaign and Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff is on a US trade mission.
South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas also has a regional cabinet meeting while a spokesman for Western Australia’s Premier, Roger Cook would only say he has ‘other commitments.
King Charles is set to make a speech at the Canberra event, which will be attended by prominent Australians from various fields such as health, the arts, culture and sport.
Neither Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (pictured left) or her deputy Ben Carroll will attend the Canberra welcome for the King
It will be Chales 17th visit to Australia but first as monarch (pictured Charles in Longreach, Queensland in 20170
It will be the 75-year-old’s 17th visit to Australia and his first foray to a Commonwealth nation since become King.
The importance of the trip is underlined by the fact King Charles will be halting his cancer treatment to make the journey.
He and Queen Camilla have committed to a packed schedule during the 11-day trip, which will include going to Samoa, where the King will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The pair will have about 10 engagements a day between them during with only one ‘down day’ of rest.
