Australia changes Great Seal: no reference to monarch
Kyiv • UNN
The new Great Seal of Australia no longer contains a mention of the monarch, breaking a 120-year tradition. The change in design drew criticism from the opposition for “hidden republicanism.
Australia's formal symbol of sovereignty, the Great Seal, has been redesigned without reference to the monarch, breaking more than 120 years of tradition and prompting criticism of "republicanism in secret," UNN writes citing The Guardian.
Details
The new version of the Great Seal of Australia - a ceremonial stamp approved by the monarch and used on key documents that exercise royal authority in Australia - was approved by royal warrants signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albenizi and King Charles III during his visit to Government House in Canberra earlier this month.
The design was prepared by the Royal Australian Mint and features the Australian coat of arms surrounded by a wickerwork, the national floral emblem.
The design was replaced by one in which the words "Elizabeth the Second Queen of Australia" surrounded the Australian coat of arms, first authorized for use by royal decree in 1973. This version was vetted by the Whitlam government, which insisted on removing historical references to Britain from the modernized design. The seal had previously been relatively unchanged since its introduction by Queen Victoria in 1900 and use by the federation the following year.
The prime minister and cabinet confirmed that the 2024 emblem was approved by the king on the recommendation of the prime minister.
The previous Great Seal of Australia, which was first authorized for use by royal decree in 1973. Photo: National Archives of Australia
Liberal National Party senator James McGrath, a shadow assistant minister to the opposition leader, criticized what he called the secrecy of the design change.
McGrath said: "Albenizi's Labor government likes to hide from the public. Albenizi's removal of any reference to the monarch is covert republicanism.
Philip Benwell, national chairman of the Australian Monarchist League, said the design change is in line with what he sees as the Albenizi government's steps toward republicanism.
Echoing McGrath's words, he also called the design change "covert republicanism." "This is what we expect from this government," Benwell said.
Australia's relatively mild republican sentiment was put in the spotlight during the King and Queen's visit to Canberra and Sydney this month, the newspaper notes.
