Monarchists want joint King and Indigenous bank note

An Australian monarchist group, with an Indigenous spokesman, has called for the rethink of the new $5 note that has removed any royal image from its design.

The Reserve Bank of Australia announced last month the new note would not have King Charles on it, replacing the late Queen Elizabeth.

Instead Indigenous artwork would be prominent, reflecting what the bank called a “connection to country”.

Now the Australian Monarchist League has said the move was ‘Neo-communism’ and has posted its own version of the note, which would include both Indigenous artwork and an image of the King, who under the Australian constitution is head of state.

“Unlike the Labor Government’s divisive decision to remove the portrait of the sovereign from the $5 note, this design is a testament to the shared journey between Indigenous Australia and the Westminster Parliamentary system underpinned by our constitutional monarchy,” spokesman Jack Barton said.

Mr Barton has Indigenous ancestry and said the amended design was something all Australians could be proud of.

“The new design, which was commissioned by the Australian Monarchist League, is a clear indication that the government and the Reserve Bank’s intention of recognising Indigenous Australians should not be done at the expense of removing the monarch’s portrait from the $5 note as both can sit alongside each other,” the organisation said on its website https://www.monarchist.org.au

The RBA’s redesign process has cost the taxpayer about $500,000, including design and consultations with Indigenous communities.