Albo's republican dream lies in tatters as independence movement is wracked by in-fighting and its leadership splinters with Nova Peris the latest to walk away after Peter FitzSimons stepped down
Anthony Albanese's decades-long dream for Australia to split from the monarchy and become a republic is teetering on the brink.
Infighting within the Australian Republican Movement comes on the back of revelations the Assistant Minister for the Republic role is set to be axed in a future cabinet reshuffle.
The rancour comes after Peter FitzSimons stepped down as chair of the organisation after seven years at the helm, following the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022.
Now former Olympian Nova Peris has stepped down from her role as co-chair of the ARM this week on the back of a public statement from her colleague, Craig Foster, against Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Gaza.
'Given our different styles of leadership and our different visions on how to promote dialogue, reconciliation and social cohesion, it is untenable for me to continue alongside Craig as co-chair of the ARM and I'll be stepping down,' Ms Peris told SMH.
![Anthony Albanese 's decades-long dream for Australia to split from the monarchy and become a republic is teetering on the brink](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/04/85181631-13445103-image-a-14_1716348951320.jpg)
Anthony Albanese 's decades-long dream for Australia to split from the monarchy and become a republic is teetering on the brink
Foster wished Peris well but said 'there can be no silence when a duty to protect other humans exists for us all'.
The PM has made no secret over his time in public life of his dream for Australia to become a republic.
But any hopes of holding a referendum on the matter any time soon were dashed with the crushing defeat of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
'Referendums are pretty hard,' the PM recently said, speaking of his other desire to extend the length of a federal government term from three to four years.
Doing so would also require a referendum.
The Voice referendum - which was defeated in every state and territory except the ACT - cost the Australian taxpayer about $450 million.
![Former Olympian Nova Peris stepped down from her role as co-chair of the ARM this week on the back of a public statement from her colleague, Craig Foster, against Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Gaza](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/07/85181629-13445103-Former_Olympian_Nova_Peris_stepped_down_from_her_role_as_co_chai-a-38_1716359647563.jpg)
Former Olympian Nova Peris stepped down from her role as co-chair of the ARM this week on the back of a public statement from her colleague, Craig Foster, against Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Gaza
Australians have already voted against becoming a republic, back in 1999 when the referendum saw a 54 per cent No vote.
The death of the Queen and in-fighting between Princes William and Harry sparked renewed hope amongst anti-monarchists that the tide could once again turn.
And Mr Albanese's decision to appoint an Assistant Minister for the Republic following his election in 2022 was seen as a promising step forward.
Daily Mail Australia reported early this week that Mr Thistlethwaite's job could be on the chopping block ahead of any summer or winter cabinet reshuffle.
A source close to the Prime Minister said the Albanese government is trying to distance itself from any 'woke' political issues - including Australia becoming a republic - in the aftermath of the Budget.
![Mr Albanese swore allegiance to King Charles at his coronation in May in the wake of the Queen's death, and despite being a 'life-long republican', insisted he has 'a great deal of respect' for the King](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/04/77347907-13445103-Mr_Albanese_swore_allegiance_to_King_Charles_at_his_coronation_i-a-16_1716348963668.jpg)
Mr Albanese swore allegiance to King Charles at his coronation in May in the wake of the Queen's death, and despite being a 'life-long republican', insisted he has 'a great deal of respect' for the King
It's understood Albanese hasn't been particularly impressed with Mr Thistlethwaite's selling of a republic referendum, and doesn't want to be accused of it being a distraction from more important economic challenges.
Mr Thistlethwaite - who is a member of the powerful NSW right faction - won't fall off the frontbench entirely. He's also assistant minister for veterans' affairs and defence which he's likely to keep in any reshuffle.
Mr Albanese swore allegiance to King Charles at his coronation in May in the wake of the Queen's death, and despite being a 'life-long republican', insisted he has 'a great deal of respect' for the King.
And he assured members of the public both in Australia and abroad a referendum on whether Australia should become a republic is out of the question for the near future.
'What I don't want to do is to be a prime minister who presides over just constitutional debates,' he said at the time.
Mr Thistlethwaite acknowledged in November 2023, just weeks after the Voice vote, that a referendum was not on the horizon for the party.
'It's in our platform that we begin a discussion with the Australian people around having one of our own as our head of State at some time in the future,' he said.
'Now is not the right time for that.'
He said the Labor party 'has a longer term vision for Australia as a mature and independent nation' and still has ambitions for the country to sever ties with King Charles III and Queen Camilla.