Australia to remove British monarch from bank notes

CANBERRA, Australia — Australia will replace the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on its $5 bank note with a new design to reflect and honor the history of its indigenous culture, the country's central bank says.

The decision follows consultation with the federal government, which supports the change, the Reserve Bank of Australia said on Thursday. The other side of the note will continue to feature the Australian Parliament, it said.

The A$5 bill is the country's only bank note still to feature an image of the monarch.

Her death in September has reignited debate in Australia about its future as a constitutional monarchy. Voters narrowly chose to maintain the British monarch as its head of state in a referendum in 1999.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a long-standing republican, but had said after the queen died that it was "not a time" for a debate on the role of the monarchy in Australia.

The bank said the new A$5 bill's design would honor "the culture and history of the First Australians".

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the change was an opportunity to strike a good balance.

"The monarch will still be on the coins, but the A$5 note will say more about our history and our heritage and our country, and I see that as a good thing."

The bank said it would consult with indigenous groups in designing the new bank note. It will take a number of years to design and print it. Until then, the current note will continue to be issued.

Agencies Via Xinhua