Australia’s state premiers have been accused of ‘playing politics’ after all six of them pulled out of greeting King Charles and Queen Camilla at a welcome reception ahead of their nine-day tour of the country.
The King is due to embark on his 17th visit to Australia this week and his first foray to a Commonwealth nation since become King.
But the 75-year-old has been given the cold shoulder by Australia’s politicians who have declined the invitation to attend his reception in Canberra on October 21.
Victoria’s premier Jacinta Allan declined last week stating the reason being she had a cabinet meeting. Her deputy, Ben Carroll, also refused the invitation, meaning Ms Allan’s parliamentary secretary Nick Staikos will represent the state.
Queensland premier Steven Miles said he could not attend because he was currently working on his election campaign, while Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff said he was on a US trade mission.
South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas and New South Wales premier Chris Minns also said they were attending a cabinet meeting.
And a spokesperson for Western Australia‘s premier Roger Cook said he had ‘other commitments’.
Australian Monarchists League Victorian spokesman Bev McArthur called this apparent snub a ‘slap in the face’ to the royal family.
King Charles III (pictured left) and Queen Camilla pose for their official Australian visit portrait
Jacinta Allan, (left) declined the invitation to welcome the King last week stating the reason being she had a cabinet meeting, while Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff (right) said he was on a US trade mission
South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas (left) and New South Wales premier Chris Minns (right) both said they were attending a cabinet meeting and we unable to attend
A spokesperson for Western Australia ‘s premier Roger Cook (left) said he had ‘other commitments’ and was unable to attend the King’s welcome reception, while Queensland Premier Steven Miles (right) said he could not attend because he was currently working on his election campaign
‘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.
‘Sometimes, leadership requires putting personal prejudice aside in the interests of the greater good,’ Mr Rowswell said.
The Mirror reported royal sources called the snubs ‘deeply unprofessional’ but insisted it would not effect the tour.
A source told the newspaper: ‘The King and Queen are incredibly excited to visit Australia and Samoa, and are very much looking forward to getting out and meeting as many people as possible on the visit.’
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.
Neither Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (pictured left) or her deputy Ben Carroll will attend the Canberra welcome for the King
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.
During their trip, the King and Queen will attend a range of events aimed at fostering relationships between communities, while highlighting their passion projects including the environment and helping domestic charities.
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.
The importance of the trip is underlined by the fact King Charles will be halting his cancer treatment to make the journey.
The King will pick up with his treatment cycle as soon as he returns to the UK.
It will be Charles’ 17th visit to Australia but first as monarch (pictured Charles in Longreach, Queensland in 20170
Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of the disease in February following prostate surgery and has been receiving weekly treatment ever since.
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.
It comes after a poll in the Daily Telegraph in Sydney found one in four respondents had a more favourable view of King Charles now than they did before he was crowned, with just 5 per cent less positive.
Just one in three thought Australia should become a republic – well down on the 39.4 per cent who voted that way at the country’s referendum in 1999.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is an avowed republican and intended to hold a second referendum on whether to ditch the monarchy.
However he cooled on the plans after the Australian public overwhelmingly rejected his plans to hand greater political rights to Aboriginal people in October last year.